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New Method to Recycle Plastic Waste Gives Fresh Life to Packaging


SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The collaboration between dairy firm Arla and German packaging firm Sudpack on a new method to recycle plastic waste has given new life to packaging, which would otherwise be incinerated.

Plastics in huge quantities are used for cheese production as cheese needs to mature in specially designed plastic films. Being multi-layered due to food-safety reasons, these films could not be recycled through mechanical recycling. As a reason, the only option available till now was to send them to incinerators.

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The company is currently carrying out a large-scale test using pyrolysis process, in partnership with Sudpack. It aims to covert around 80 tonnes of plastic waste per annum into new packaging. The process converts plastic waste into oil by thermal decomposition of the waste at elevated temperatures.

Grane Maaloe, Lead Packaging Development Manager at Arla Foods said that the process will recycle the plastic waste and the recycled material will be used to create new packaging, which in turn will reduce the carbon footprint. The move is part of company’s commitment to improve circularity, he added.

The full processing operation, including the pyrolysis process, produces 50% less emissions, than sending to incineration.