PET PLASTIC IS USEFUL
PET plastic is usually found in bottles that contain drinks, mineral water, and cleaning products. We are accumulating tons of bottles that are discharged after only one use. To preserve the planet´s health, it is essential to reduce the waste of these kind of materials. Likewise, the lifecycle of these materials can be extended. The awareness of being responsible with our environment and the improved and more efficient recycling methods have considerably increased the percentage of the material that is given a second life.
PET plastic has marked a revolution in terms of preserving our planet. It is one of the materials that can be recycled, and the manufacturing process is less harmful than PVC plastics. This is the main reason why most products have discarded the use of PVC.
In addition to this positive aspect of PET plastic, its advantages can be summed up as transparency, safety and being resistant. Moreover, the amount of raw material and energy used, can be brought down in the manufacturing process. Raw material can be saved by using the leftovers that come out of the molds in the following process. The leftovers are crushed and so it ends up having a second life.
At Rosa Envases we have managed to reuse 20% of the total of raw material. We are planning to go a step further and use recycled PET directly in our production, always with the client´s agreement.
In the following paragraph, we will refer to the three recycling methods that are most used nowadays.
-Energetic recycling
This is the simplest method of the three. It comes down to burning plastic products to obtain heat used in other manufacturing processes. Besides, it can generate electric power.
-Chemical recycling
This holds in creating a chemical reaction, called monolysis or glycolysis. PET material is decomposed into separate molecules
-Mechanical recycling
This is the most common recycling method of the three mentioned. The material to be recycled is separated and washed thoroughly to get rid of the substances that can contaminate the rest. Afterwards, it undergoes a drying and crushing procedure. The material that is obtained this way is transformed into new products.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER ON RECYCLING
Health
Often, we ask ourselves whether consuming food, drinks and cosmetics in recycled plastics has a negative effect on our health and wellbeing. Therefore, as this remains an essential aspect of plastic, the E.U has published a regulation, the Directive 2019/904. By 2025, 25% of all the plastic bottles used for drinks, up to 3 liters, should be made with recycled material. In the year 2050, that percentage should reach 30%. Besides, the directive states that recycling must be controlled by the designated authorities. The recycling method that is approved is called “super clean procedure”.
Considering the data described above, assures us that the E.U has a strict control to prevent negative effects on the world population. Recycled PET or rPET is the only material allowed for post consumption recycling that meet the E.U standards.
Impact on the local economy
The economy of a region can benefit from the increase in recycling. It brings down costs significantly as there is less necessity to import expensive raw materials from abroad. In the same way, less raw material will be extracted from earth. The possibility of giving plastics a second life results in less extraction of raw materials, preserving the earth´s natural resources. At the same time, it saves the amount of energy that is needed in the extraction process.
THE TYPES OF PLASTICS THAT CAN BE RECYCLED
The plastics that can be recycled are thermoplastics. They melt as they undergo a heating process. Hence, they can acquire new shapes. 80% of the plastic that is produced is thermoplastic. This explains that most of the plastic is recyclable. Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene (PS) fall under this category.
How can we know the value of recycled material?
At this stage, we must talk about the importance of correctly separating the material that is going to be recycled. There are materials that are not miscible with each other. They cannot be mixed and used in other processes. Therefore, each material requires a different manipulation. Moreover, the market values the material to be recycled based on its purity. In case the plastics are mixed up, chemical substances will have to be applied to make them miscible.
Consequently, to make the separation process easier, the Society of Plastic Industry has come up with a code used worldwide to identify each kind of plastic. Until now, it is not compulsory, but most plastic goods include the code at the bottom. Besides, there is the possibility of including the code directly in the mold itself.
Once the advantages and the importance of recycling is clear, we will now consider how Rosa Envases acts in relation to recycling. The current regulation tends to be more demanding as it refers to recycling and the preservation of the environment. Rosa Envases is determined to fulfill these requirements. We move forward with the introduction of recycled PET and not only in plastic bottles.
Nonetheless, our priority is to make sure that recycled products are safe and with the quality that we always provide. The final product must meet the appearance and resistance that the client expects.
As Rosa Envases deepens on recycling and environmental preservation, we will keep you informed of our progress and how it benefits society.
