South Korea-headquartered SK Chemicals has launched a new range of E PET-compatible copolyesters comprised of 30% post-consumer recycled material, now available on the European market.
The new products can be used successfully in most of the processes in which PETG and PCTG copolyesters are currently used.
Called Ecotria, the new family currently consists of two new grades that have been approved for food-contact applications, both of which offer good processability, chemical resistance and clarity. Additionally, both have been independently certified as being compatible with the RIC 1 PET recycling stream.
SK Chemicals developed its new Ecotria grades in response to the current and future European Regulations on plastic packaging and the Circular Economy.
“For the first time, products made in amorphous materials, which are more difficult to recycle, can be easily replaced by a product that contains both a high level of recycled material and which can be recycled in the existing PET recycling process,” said Steve Kim, Head of the SK Chemicals Copolyester Division.
The two Ecotria grades have been formulated to crystallise sufficiently quickly as to be compatible with the PET recycling process, but slowly enough to be used in most injection and blow moulding processes that traditionally used PETG or PCTG. Like PET, both grades require drying before being processed.
The new products fullfil a need, said the company. A customer on France has already completed tests to replace its conventional, non-recyclable packaging of a number of high-profile cosmetic products by the new materials.
“We see this being repeated for other products in the future,” was their response.
SK Chemicals said that other products will be added to the range in the near future.