Dr. Kurt Stark March 14th, 2013 PET Value Chain: Unlocking the Potential Thursday 14th – Friday 15th March 2013 Movenpick Amsterdam City Centre, The Netherlands Developments in the European PET film industry: Real Sustainability with foamed APET Films
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Dr. Kurt Stark March 14th, 2013
PET Value Chain: Unlocking the Potential
Thursday 14th – Friday 15th March 2013
Movenpick Amsterdam City Centre, The Netherlands
Developments in the European PET film industry:
Real Sustainability with foamed APET Films
Contents
1. A brief overview of the European PET film industry
Very high price (up to factor 6!) compared to oil based polymers
PLA: produced in the U.S. from genetically modified corn
Compostibility is indeed advertised, but not industrially practisedas this happens unsatisfactory and needs too much energy (temperatureabout 75°C, defined humidity, duration several weeks � takes too long!)
Eco bilances / life cycle assessments are often sugar coated and green washed!
Packages made from Biopolymers are NOT RECYCLED, but incineratedinstead! This is also what experts recommend. (s. Hans-Josef Endres, Andrea Siebert-Raths, „Technische Biopolymere“, Carl Hanser Verlag München, 2009, S. 256)
Serious deficits regarding material properties:
- no barrier against oxygen and water- too brittle- water sensitive and hygroscopic- poor sealing properties (especially when based on cellulose)- Processing is very difficult (machines have to be modified!)- not temperature stable (for PLA, < 60°C)- additivation is necessary!
Danone’s inclusion on the packaging of the phrase “new environmentally-friendly tub” raised theire of a German environmental organization, known as DUH, which promptly filed a complaintagainst Danone in the Munich District Court. DUH’s accusations of greenwashing byDanone centered on two supposed environmental deficiencies of the packaging: 1) thenew packaging is not recyclable; and 2) the packaging did not represent an environmentally-discernible improvement over Danone’s predecessor polystyrene packaging because it was made from genetically-modified corn — an environmental no-no in DUH’s estimation.
Germany: Discounters present themselves 'greener' than they are
The German environment organisation 'Deutsche Umwelthilfe' (DUH) is of the opinion that the supermarket chains Aldi and Rewe deceive the consumer. They say they sell carry bags made out of organic plastic, which can be composted. According to DUH these bags cannot be composted and are not recyclable. Prints of green landscapes and slogans such as 'Zeig der Umwelt ein Lächeln!' (Show a smile to the world around you!) make the plastic bags of Aldi and Rewe look good. According to the environmental organisation the companies want to give the impression that organic products are involved. However, the DUH came, after research, to a different conclusion: the bags cannot be composted, cannot be recycled and are mainly made out of crude oil. The organisation mentioned consumer deception and 'green washing'. The environmental group will now establish whether legal proceedings can be started.
The table shows how much packaging material weight can be saved when using the foamed film. In addition to the cost savings in material and the lower transportation costs resulting from the lower packaging weight, it is also necessary to consider the not-so-insignificant savings in DSD (dual refuse system) fees for the “Green Point“ system.
There is not any method available for recycling biomaterials.
In contrast: If large amounts of PLA were to be sent to the recycling plant, then the raw materials would contaminate the waste stream and make other recycled plastics unmarketable.
Based on a report from the experts at Euwid, the Petcore organization views the recycling of PET bottles to be at risk.
Even a small market share of PLA could lead to a serious disruption of the infrastructure for recycling PET bottles in Europe.
3. Sustainability in Practice
Risks when recycling Biopolymers, like polylactic acid (PLA):