Plastix is a plastics recycling company in Denmark with a focus on providing solutions for used fishing nets and ropes that would otherwise end up in landfill or the ocean.
Titan Bioplastics is a US-based nanotechnology biopolymer-based science firm offering a variety of biodegradable based material technologies.
These two companies have now come together in a partnership alliance that plans to support sustainable circular economy initiatives for ‘Super Plastics,’ leveraging Titan Bioplastics’ Food Safe Nano Technology.
By developing solutions to upgrade recycled materials, more materials will be available that meet the recycled content packaging requirements coming into force throughout the EU.
In the European Union, recycled plastics and additives can only be used in food and beverage packaging if they are first reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority for safety. Recycling companies submit applications to individual countries, which apply to the EFSA on their behalf.
The EU has set a 90% collection target for plastic bottles by 2029, and it mandates that plastic bottles be made of at least 25% recycled plastic by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
Titan Bioplastics has developed a USA FDA food contact approved mineral additive called Titan Nanofill, which can potentially provide a 100% increase in barrier properties in different polymers, blocking moisture, oxygen and some UV at small loading rates and reducing the number of layers needed in multi-layered structures.
Titan Nanofill prevents leaching, and when blended with plastics during recycling, prevents other plastics from leaching as well.
The goal of the partnership, said Plastic CEO Hans Axel Kristensen, is to increase the content of recycled plastics in basically all products to meet the requirements of the New Circular Plastics Economy, ‘not just by recycling plastic waste, but ensuring these materials are on par with virgin materials, making them applicable for a multitude of uses including food contact packaging’.
“Technologies and solutions advancing the plastics industry towards a circular economy, are imperative,” he added.
Titan Bioplastics CEO Tanya Hart said, “We see this as an advancement to many packaging solutions, as well as serious technology supporting companies adapting production in order to meet directives by the European Commission and the Extended Producer Responsibility Act.”