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Preview Content Explainers Czapp Explains: RPET and the Circular Economy

June 29, 2021

1 min read

Czapp Explains: RPET and the Circular Economy

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What is the Circular Economy?

  • The circular economy looks beyond the current “Take, Make, Dispose” linear consumption pattern.
  • Changing to a circular model helps reduce waste and pollution, whilst keeping products and materials in use.
  • A circular approach also helps decouple plastics manufacturing from the consumption of petroleum-based resources.

Key Stages in Recycling PET

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1. Collection: mechanisms range from curbside collection to deposit return schemes. Return schemes result in the highest quality of material.

2. Sorting & Baling: Curbside collection typically requires additional sorting at a municipal recycling facility (MRF). Waste is separated by material type and polymer. Bottles are then baled and traded globally.

3. Grinding & Washing: Plastics are shredded into smaller pieces. Hot and cold washing removes contaminants and improves PET flake quality.

4. Flakes & Pellets: Plastics are finally converted into new plastic products, including flakes and pellets.

5. End-Use Applications*: RPET flakes and pellets can be used in the production of end-use products similar to virgin plastic.

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* Percentages estimated on a global basis

PET Bottle Collection Rates Across the Globe

One of the limiting factors in the availability of RPET material is bottle collection.

Bottle collection varies between countries and regions.

Those with established bottle return schemes tend to have the highest collection, e.g. Germany with a rate of ~95%.

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This Czapp Explainer was Published on the 29th June 2021.

For information on PET Resin and Plastic Packaging, please contact GLamb@czarnikow.com. 

Czapp Explains: What is PET?

  • PET resin (or Polyethylene Terephthalate) is one of the most commonly used thermoplastics.
  • It plays an important role in everyday life and is used to make a wide range of packaging.
  • It’s also the most recycled plastic globally and is easily recognizable by the “1” symbol on most packaging types.

Gareth Lamb

2 years ago

1 min read

Czapp Explains: Europe’s First Plastic Packaging Tax

  • The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax is set to become Europe’s first plastic tax in effect.  
  • It’ll come into force in April 2022 but packaging with more than 30% recycled content is exempt. 
  • It aims to prompt a switch from virgin to recycled plastic and create value recognition in waste plastic.  

Gareth Lamb

1 year ago

4 min read

Czapp Explains: Global PET Resin Capacity and Projects

Since entering commercial production back in the 1980s, PET bottle-grade resin has rapidly grown to become the dominant packaging for beverages. The move away from traditional glass bottles was driven by a need to reduce both transportation and production costs, whilst improving the durability and safety of packaging. Improvements in production and compounding technologies over this time also enabled for a rapid expansion in PET resin usage across the food and beverage space.

Gareth Lamb

4 months ago

3 min read