A breakthrough delamination approach to composite packaging recycling

Saperatec, a developer of recycling processes for composite packaging comprised of various materials, will highlight a groundbreaking multi-layer delamination approach at the K Fair Trade Show, in Düsseldorf.

The company will present an extended mechanical recycling process for thin-layer composite materials made of plastic, metal, paper and glass. It is currently building its first recycling plant for composite packaging in Dessau, Germany. In 2023, the facility will commence commercial operations with an initial goal of processing about 18,000 tons of packaging waste per year. As evidenced by demonstrations, Saperatec’s novel approach results in recycled materials that can replace virgin raw materials in numerous applications, including film or foil-based packaging. Importantly, the process adds no contaminants to recycled polymers, and all chemicals used in the process comply with EU food contact regulations.

Saperatec’s composite packaging recycling capabilities bring the potential to separate and reintegrate a wide variety of substrates into the packaging stream. For starters, Saperatec will focus on composite flexible packaging materials and tube packaging with aluminium foil barriers, as well as plastics and aluminium from beverage cartons. Beyond that, Saperatec‘s technology opens the door for future recyclability solutions in a wide range of composite packaging, as well as other materials combining plastics with metal, glass and paper. Outside the packaging realm, possibilities include vastly improved recycling for glass-polymer composites such as car glass, and for metal-polymer items like certain pipes and panels.

Importantly, Saperatec’s recycling process is sustainability-minded. The hot-wash separation fluids utilized are water-based and solvent-free, and are reused more than 30 times in the process. Any and all materials employed during packaging recycling are listed for food contact materials without specific migration limit, per European regulations.

Part of 670 issue – July/August 22. All rights reserved except agreement written by Emballage Digest or mention of the magazine