Trinseo, a global manufacturer of polymers, additives, latex binders and synthetic rubber, has announced the development of an innovative material together with German packaging manufacturer Fernholz.
It consists of a new grade of polystyrene containing up to 40% chemically recycled post-consumer waste (r-PS) that can be readily processed on classic Form Fill Seal (FFS) machines, eliminating the need for costly equipment upgrades. Before launching the new material onto the market, Trinseo and Fernholz conducted full-scale field tests to verify the compatibility of r-PS with FFS machine processes, as well as evaluating parameters such as migration and sensory testing. The recycling process used by Trinseo involves dissolving post-consumer waste in solvent, followed by purification to eliminate additives and other contaminants from the polymer.
The material is suitable for forming pots for yoghurt or other food products and has already been adopted by several European dairy producers. Trinseo has stated that it has the capacity to supply the dairy industry and related sectors with several thousand tons of the material.
