Multilayer Packaging in a Circular Economy

Schmidt, Jannick Højrup; Grau, Laura; Auer, Maximilian; Maletz, Roman; Woidasky, Jörg

doi:10.3390/polym14091825

Cited by 43 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Flexible packaging, primarily consisting of single-use products, has been the fastest growing and most challenging segment of the plastic packaging industry with regard to recyclability [4]. In addition to monolayer products (one layer of the same type of polymer), flexible packaging contains many multilayer films (several layers of different types of polymers, and sometimes non-polymeric materials, as well) which are more complex and difficult to recycle [5,6]. A variety of additives are included during their processing, e.g., antioxidants, photo-stabilizers, flame retardants, heat stabilizers, plasticizers, compatibilizers, fillers, dyes, and pigments, and this increases their complexity even more [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Washing Post-Consumer Flexible Polyethylene Packaging Waste

Noyan

Venkatesh²,

Boldizar³

2022

Recycling

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The mechanical and thermal properties of injection-molded recycled polyethylene were studied, specifically with respect to the influence of large-scale washing and melt-compounding of polyethylene from post-consumer packaging waste. Three types of materials were studied: those taken after sorting, after sorting and washing, and after sorting, washing, and melt-compounding, including melt-filtration, all from a large-scale material flow. The materials were further processed on a laboratory scale and compared. The results showed that large-scale washing significantly reduced thermo-oxidative stability, as well as molar mass and melt viscosity. The degradation during large-scale washing made the material susceptible to further degradation in the subsequent extrusion compounding, as shown by the differences in compounding at 240 and 200 °C using a high-shear screw configuration. The compounding parameters, screw configuration, and compounding temperature did not influence the stiffness and strength of the unwashed and large-scale-washed materials, but the elongation-at-break varied, specifically, with the increased temperature. Washing had an influence on the mechanical properties as well, and the unwashed material provided molded samples with stiffness measurements of approximately 550 MPa, whereas the large-scale-washed material provided stiffness of approximately 400 MPa. The strength measurements were approximately 15 MPa for samples made of both unwashed and large-scale-washed material, and the elongation-at-break measurements were between 50 and 150%. The large-scale-washed and compounded materials had very different mechanical properties, with stiffness measurements of approximately 320 MPa, strength of approximately 20 MPA, and elongation-at-break of approximately 350%. The significantly different mechanical properties of the large-scale-washed and compounded materials were likely due to the melt-filtration included in the compounding through the removal of metal and rubber particles, and they may also have been due to the compatibilizing and stabilizing additive used in the compounding.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Washing Post-Consumer Flexible Polyethylene Packaging Waste

Noyan

Venkatesh²,

Boldizar³

2022

Recycling

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“…Multilayer packaging can be divided into rigid and flexible as well as special-purpose and ordinary packaging [ 12 ]. Multilayer materials significantly extend the shelf life of fresh, packaged foods, mainly meat, fish, poultry and cheese [ 29 ].…”

Section: Structure Of Multilayer Packagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multilayer packages can be flexible or semi-rigid and contain polymer layers and inorganic layers [ 12 ]. Each layer has a specific function throughout the layout.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the Cast Polyolefin Film Extrusion Technology for Multi-Layer Packaging Applications

et al. 2023

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The review article presents the technology of producing polyolefin-based films by extrusion casting. Due to the wide use of this type of film as packaging for food and other goods, obtaining films with favorable properties is still a challenge for many groups of producers in the plastics market. The feedblock process and multimanifold process are the main methods of producing multi-layer film. In the case of food films, appropriate barrier properties are required, as well as durability and puncture resistance also at low temperatures. On the other hand, in order to properly pack and present products, an appropriate degree of transparency must be maintained. Therefore, processing aids such as anti-slip, anti-block and release agents are commonly used. Other popular modifiers, such as waxes, fatty acid amides and mineral fillers—silica, talc or calcium carbonate–and their use in film extrusion are discussed. The article also presents common production problems and their prevention.

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“…Conventional technologies, such as mechanical recycling, cannot be used to recycle ML films; [12][13][14] therefore, ML films end up in landfills or combusted. [15][16][17] The improper management of ML films can also lead to plastic leakage into the natural environment, with plastic entering the waterways and consequently, the food chain. 18,19 Solvent-based separation has been recently proposed as a paradigm that enables the recovery of polymers from ML films.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the Environmental Benefits of a Solvent-Based Separation Process for Multilayer Plastic Films

Munguía-López

Göreke

Sánchez-Rivera

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Food packaging often appears in the form of multilayer (ML) plastic films, which leverage the functional properties of different polymers to achieve specific food protection goals (e.g., oxygen, water, and temperature barriers). These properties are essential to enable long shelf lives, reduce refrigeration usage, mitigate food waste, and increase food accessibility. However, ML f film production processes generate large amounts of plastic waste that cannot be mechanically recycled. Recently, we have proposed a process, which we call solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP), that enables the separation and recycling of the constituent polymers of ML films. This technology uses a series of solvent washes that selectively dissolve and precipitate target polymers. Quantifying the environmental benefits of STRAP over virgin resin production is essential for the commercial deployment of this technology. This work uses life cycle assessment (LCA) methods to evaluate these impacts in terms of carbon footprint, energy use, water use, and toxicity. We analyze three STRAP process variants that use anti-solvent and temperature-driven precipitation and that target different types of ML films. Our analysis reveals that a couple of STRAP process variants can provide environmental benefits over virgin film production and also provides valuable insight into the key components of ML films and of the STRAP process that are responsible for the highest impacts. Ultimately, we believe that the proposed analysis framework can lead to the design of more environmentally-friendly ML films and recycling processes.

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Multilayer Packaging in a Circular Economy

Cited by 43 publications

References 64 publications

Washing Post-Consumer Flexible Polyethylene Packaging Waste

Washing Post-Consumer Flexible Polyethylene Packaging Waste

Overview of the Cast Polyolefin Film Extrusion Technology for Multi-Layer Packaging Applications

Quantifying the Environmental Benefits of a Solvent-Based Separation Process for Multilayer Plastic Films

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