Alpla Group, an international plastic packaging and recycling specialist based in Hard, Austria, has joined a new consortium for chemical recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The consortium intends to speed up commercialization of enhanced recycling technology BP Infinia, which turns opaque and difficult-to-recycle PET plastic waste into recycled feedstock.

By joining forces, consortium members believe they can speed up commercialization of BP Infinia technology. Image courtesy BP.

The consortium is made up of companies operating across the polyester packaging value chain, including those involved in the manufacture, use, collection and recycling of PET plastic packaging. Other members include food, drink and consumer goods producers Britvic, Danone and Unilever; waste management and recycling specialist Remondis; and energy and petrochemicals producer BP.

Georg L?sser, Head of Recycling at Alpla, said, ?Alpla is delighted to join this cross-functional project with partners from the entire value chain. It completes our intense activities besides mechanical recycling and focuses on post-industrial PET waste, difficult-to-recycle PET packaging and PET thermoform trays. With BP in the lead, we have a very strong and highly experienced partner that contributes with knowledge about virgin polyester production.?

Rita Griffin, BP Chief Operating Officer Petrochemicals, added: ?BP is experienced in developing and scaling up technology and we?ll do this again with our innovative BP Infinia process. But we know we cannot create circularity on our own. That?s why we are thrilled to be working together with industry leaders to develop and prove a practical business model that can hopefully contribute to making all types of polyester waste infinitely recyclable.?

The consortium members believe by joining forces they can speed up commercialization of the technology, infrastructure and demand needed to process billions of opaque and difficult-to-recycle PET bottles and food trays that are currently disposed of each year, said Alpla.

» Publication Date: 21/01/2020

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