On October 10, 2024, the Austrian Packaging Day took place at FH Campus Wien, focusing on the future of the packaging industry under the motto “Sustainable, Circular and Safe Packaging: Global Trends and Local Implementation” . The event brought together representatives from all areas of the industry – from manufacturing companies, from the packaging development sector, to suppliers and research institutions. Interzero was represented with a groundbreaking contribution that underlined our role as an innovation leader in the field of plastics recycling. A highlight was the lecture by Dr.

. Manica Ulcnik-Krump, Geschäftsführerin von Interzero Plastics Innovations, in which it presented “New developments in HDPE recycling” . HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene , a plastic that is often used in products such as plastic bottles. With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) adopted in November 2023, companies now face the challenge of incorporating a certain percentage of recycled plastic, so-called post-consumer recyclate (PCR) , into their packaging. However, the use of PCR materials is proving challenging as their complex properties often obscure performance compared to virgin materials. Interzero has responded to these challenges by developing a patented mechanical recycling process that incorporates chemical modifications to improve material properties and ensure higher quality. The process, which specifically focuses on blow molded products made from 100% recycled material from lightweight packaging (LVP) , sets a new standard. Until now, HDPE recycling was only suitable for simple applications such as extrusion. Now, however, thanks to a chemically controlled rheology modification, the material can be modified to have the same flow properties as new plastic. This opens up new possibilities for applications such as blow molding, which is crucial in the production of plastic bottles. A major advantage of this process is that it no longer requires the addition of new plastic, so-called primary plastic. This not only saves resources such as petroleum , but also significantly reduces _CO2 emissions _. In addition, avoiding energy-intensive sorting processes ensures additional CO2 savings. The process is continuously developed and perfected at the Interzero Competence Center for Plastics Recycling in Maribor. In addition to reducing _CO2 emissions, this innovative recycling process offers the packaging industry an economically viable way to source high-quality raw materials from recycled plastic without compromising on material quality. These sustainable solutions help meet the European Union’s ambitious climate targets and the PPWR requirements.

More on the topic of HDPE for bottle production and innovative developments?

Read more about this topic in our article: HDPE for bottle production made from 100% LVP for the first time – Interzero receives patent for more sustainable process for plastic recycling – Interzero – Your strong environmental service provider

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