Giving used food packaging a second life and advancing recycling of PVDC within the polyolefin waste streams

Syensqo, a leading global provider of advanced performance materials and chemical solutions, is pleased to announce the successful completion of an ambitious recycling initiative. The results of comprehensive trials have proven that multilayer food packaging structures with Ixan® polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) can effectively be recycled into valuable feedstock for other applications within a standard polyethylene (PE) based waste stream. The trials have been conducted by CSI, an acknowledged provider of testing and certification services for controlled environments, which is part of the IMQ group.

Federico Baruffi, Global Marketing Manager Packaging at Syensqo, states: “Recyclability is the main requirement for food packaging nowadays. Multilayer films possess outstanding properties and are essential in food packaging, having a strong positive environmental impact by reducing food waste. However, due to their particular composition and structures, they have previously been considered impractical for mechanical recycling, which is the most common method in the industry. Our tests have now demonstrated that film structures using our Ixan® PVDC product are fully compatible with existing mechanical PE recycling. Notably, the resulting recycling can give used food packaging a second life in other applications and open new opportunities for sustainable material management without the addition of any stabilizers.”

PVDC is well known to offer the best oxygen and water vapor barrier in food packaging. The tests were performed with structures for high-barrier meat packaging using PE/EVA/Ixan® /EVA/PE multilayer films. The impact of the structures on the recycling process was evaluated in comparison to a reference sample of real flexible packaging waste.

The trials were conducted in compliance with EN 13430, which defines the requirements for packaging material recycling in Europe. The multilayer Ixan® PVDC structures passed all testing without any critical issues in grinding, subsequent washing/drying, extrusion/pelletizing, and injection molding, even at 220°C.

The project has clearly proven that multilayer food packaging with PVDC can be mechanically recycled in an open loop approach together with PE waste, enabling the efficient, flexible, and sustainable reuse of the resulting feedstock in injection molded items such as flower pots, pallets, benches, etc. This is a significant achievement, as European community initiatives aim to increase the percentage of plastic packaging that is effectively recycled across Europe.

Ixan® is a registered trademark of Syensqo.

About Syensqo
Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel, and play. Inspired by the scientific councils, which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates in 30 countries.

Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, and healthcare applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.

Learn more at www.syensqo.com.