Meaning
Secondary raw materials consist of small pieces of plastic produced by grinding up post-consumer or post-industrial polyester containers. Recycled PET flake is a major feedstock for the production of new packaging, fibres, films and engineering components. The quality of this material depends on the efficiency of the sorting and washing processes used by the recycler to remove contaminants.
Feedstock Quality
Consistency of the incoming material is the biggest challenge for manufacturers using this recycled source. Recycled PET flake can vary in terms of colour, molecular weight and the presence of residual adhesives or labels. To manage this, moulders often blend the flake with virgin resin or use advanced filtration systems to remove any solid particles that could clog the injection gates.
Contamination Level
Impurities in the supply chain can lead to defects in the final product or damage to the processing equipment. A high level of PVC or polyolefin in the recycled PET flake will cause black specks and structural weaknesses in the moulded part. Testing for these contaminants is a necessary part of the quality control process for any facility that uses high percentages of regrind or recycled content.
Circular Economy
Environmental goals are driving the increased use of these materials in a wide range of consumer products. Processing recycled PET flake reduces the carbon footprint of the manufacturing operation and keeps plastic waste out of landfills. As the technology for cleaning and sorting these flakes improves, it is becoming possible to use them in more demanding applications, including food contact packaging that meets the same safety standards as virgin material.
This transition is supported by brand owners who are committed to increasing the recycled content in their product portfolios over the next decade.
