PLA manufacturer TotalEnergies Corbion and rigid packaging provider Coexpan have announced the launch of a new cup produced using form-fill-seal technology made from recycled PLA. The cup is available in both white and high transparency.
All testing for the new solution was conducted at Coexpan’s Innotech centre in Spain, where Coexpan and Innotech are continuously researching options to reduce the footprint of the products they offer. No additional investment or significant changes in existing FFS facilities were needed to produce the cup using the recycled material.
"We are very proud to include in our portfolio a new sustainable product that increases the number of technical solutions we can put on the market, a clear added value for all our customers. Having used this material for more than 10 years, we are undoubtedly the leading PLA resin converter in the FFS market," said Gonzalo Sanchez, Coexpan’s recycling manager.
Total Corbion is actively promoting the development of a collection structure for PLA, in order to broaden the options for recycled PLA.
“We have a team of specialized engineers to work with our partners and develop the right Luminy PLA grades. And we also buy back the used PLA to recycle it at our facilities. Advanced recycling of PLA is much more energy efficient process in comparison with other plastics. We appeal to all PLA users to get in touch and set up a collection structure,” said Derek Atkinson, senior director Sales and Business Development at the company.
Luminy rPLA is a biobased polymer produced from sugarcane. The carbon captured from the atmosphere by the sugarcane is kept in the cycle with advanced recycling. This occurs through a process of depolymerisation, yielding lactic acid from which new PLA is produced. The rPLA has the same properties as virgin PLA, including food contact approval in the EU (EC No. 10/2011), the USA (FDA 21 CFR) and China (GB 9685-2016).