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Plastics Changing the Headlines
Plastics Changing the Headlines
rPET – Resin Symbol

MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

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PET explained

 

APET, rPET and Bio-PET are 100% recyclable plastics, and are collected in UK kerbside household rubbish waste collections.   PET is a recyclable and reusable plastic which can be super-cleaned to create a multi-use, and multi-reuse plastic from both post-consumer waste and post-industrial waste.  Clear and blue tint plastic bottles, plastic tubs and trays are recycled and, following super-cleaning and re-processing are reused to create rPET packaging and other products.

 

Charpak manufactures packaging using both Virgin PET and recycled (rPET) packaging.
Charpak’s rPET packaging contains a minimum of 50% PCW (post consumer waste) and up to 40% post industrial waste.

 

Charpak’s plastic waste is returned to re-processors to be super-cleaned and re-processed to create plastic sheet for reuse in new packaging.

 

99.8% of Charpak’s PET materials contain food grade recycled plastics.

 

Clear rPET is widely recycled throughout the UK and in household kerbside collections.  Clear rPET is also collected from other waste services such as local auhthority recycling centres.

 

Our Bio-PET is produced of a waste product from sugar cane that is converted to Ethanol to form the basis of a standard PET product. This means no fossil fuels are used to produce it. This product can be recycled straight back into standard PET.

Bakewell bun interior packaging

APET Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate

 

APET, is a type of PET and one of the best clear plastic materials for thermoformed packaging.

 

APET is highly shiny and transparent clear plastic packaging.  Its optimum use is for displaying food and non-food products on-shelf visual merchandising in retail.

 

APET is used for automotive, manufacturing solutions, DIY and household packaging, lightweight and protecting products through transport and distribution, protecting highly sensitive electronics and conductor products, beauty and cosmetics, and in luxury gift packaging (non-food).

rPET Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate

 

rPET is a type of PET.  rPET is super clean recycled food grade approved APET.

 

All Charpak’s rPET has full FDA/FSA food approval.

 

rPET has high transparency and perfect for visual merchandising on shelf in retail, with the added advantage of increasing shelf-life of perishable (and non-perishable) products.  Clear rPET packaging showcases products with a high gloss, protective, and shatter-resistant packaging, and due to its’ protective properties also reduces food waste, recognised as keeping food fresher for longer.

 

rPET uses a high percentage of post-consumer waste* with an A-B-A layer of Food Grade material which conforms to UK / EU approved food packaging regulations.

 

There are two methods of manufacturing rPET, both of which give rPET its certified food contact assurance:

 

  • 10% outer layers (5% each layer) are made from Virgin APET, with the inner layer manufactured from a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste*. Virgin rPET is therefore the only plastic which comes into contact with food products.

 

  • A minimum of 50% post-consumer waste and up to 40% post-industrial waste is ‘super-cleaned’ and added to Virgin APET.

 

rPET is best used throughout the ambient and chilled food sectors, including cheese and dairy packaging, snacks and food-to-go, confectionery, cakes and desserts.  rPET is used in both manufacturing solutions for automated production lines, or hand-finished products, and on-shelf packaging in retail.

Charpak-Ltd-Twist-Loc-Recycle-Now

Coloured PET Polyethylene Terephthalate – Jazz / Coloured rPET

 

rColoured PET has nearly always been the basis of the post-consumer waste in black rPET.  PET Jazz / Coloured Plastics are Widely recycled.  This new solution from Charpak and its’ partners offers a solution to what happens to black plastic, and non-recycled coloured packaging:

 

NEW for 2020: A new rPET solution can use recycled black plastic PET packaging, and remanufacture it, and other coloured plastics into new food grade recycled packaging.  The super-cleaned material can be used for pots, tubs and containers,  healthcare packaging, transit trays, plastic trays, presentation packaging, lids, automotive trays, in-process protective packaging, electronics and electrical packaging, SOT trays, food-to-go packaging, snack pots, salad trays, meat trays, cake packaging, clam packs, blister packs and many more uses.

 

CHARPAK PRODUCTS: Food packaging, pots, tubs and containers,  healthcare packaging, transit trays, plastic trays, presentation packaging, lids, automotive trays, in-process protective packaging, electronics and electrical packaging, SOT trays, food-to-go packaging, snack pots, salad trays, meat trays, cake packaging, clam packs, blister packs and more.

 

Developed in collaboration with Charpak’s key supply chain partners, the new Satchmo solution is manufactured from a minimum 86% recycled rPET material.  Throughout all trials within the UK, the packaging has been recovered and is widely recycled.  Containing the important A/B/A layer for recycled plastics to ensure food grade use and recyclability, this new solution is designed for the circular economy.  It can reuse and replace black plastic packaging, it reuses coloured jazz plastic to reduce packaging waste, and provides a new solution for multiple industry sectors.

 

This new solution is super-cleaned, hygienic, reusable, recyclable, returnable and can be reprocessed and re-manufactured for new packaging for multiple sectors.  This avoids waste, landfill and EfW.

 

Multiple colour solutions are available.  All have successfully passed feasibility trials, recycling and recovery trials for re-manufacture into new packaging.  This new solution minimises and reduces packaging waste, and designed to achieve the New Plastics Circular Economy. 

 

For more information Contact Us.

 

Widely recycled

Widely Recycled PET packaging for meat, fish and poultry

Coloured PET Polyethylene Terephthalate 

 

Coloured PET will nearly always be the basis of the post-consumer waste in black rPET.  Coloured PET is widely recycled.

 

Coloured PET is used for a variety of packaging products.  Examples of coloured packaging include gold, silver and bronze packaging, which is recyclable because it does not contain metal. 

 

Other common colours include blue trays  which are frequently used in seafood and sushi packaging. Brown and blue trays  are frequently used for mushroom packaging.  Coloured plastics are manufactured specifically for the food industry, with a gloss and shiny finish.  All are food hygiene approved for food contact. 

 

Charpak can match all colour pantone references to a client’s brand or category range requirements.  Minimum order quantities are required. For more information on coloured rPET contact our Packaging Specialists.

 

Widely recycled

Jazz coloured rPET plastic packaging

Black rPET Polyethylene Terephthalate 

 

Black rPET contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste and up to 40% post-industrial waste.

 

Charpak operates a closed-loop system to ensure black rPET waste goes back into our packaging products.

 

Black rPET whilst recyclable, is not widely recycled in the current UK waste infrastructure.  From early 2018 retailers and waste organisations have developed the first UK trials to recycle Black rPET.  Charpak strongly recommend the Government’s updated Waste Management Plan (in development at time of writing) commits increased investment in the provision of UK recycling solutions of Black rPET. 

 

Black rPET is manufactured from coloured PET and can be an effective multi-use and multi-reuse solution.   Coloured rPET which is the basis for Black rPET is commonly referred to as ‘jazz’ within the industry.  Black rPET remains a challenge for the industry due to the challenge with recyclability and recovery of the material.  New solutions to Black rPET are in development.  For more information please visit the FAQs section. or contact our Packaging Specialists.

 

Products manufactured from black rPET include bases for cheese selection packaging, chocolate packaging and premium dessert packaging.

Mini Dessert Selection boxes

PETG Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

 

PETG is also a type of PET with an addition of glycol. The addition of Glycol removes the hazing effect seen during the heating of PET and prevents the undesirable crystallisation effect which causes standard PET to become brittle.

 

Products manufactured from PETG are clearer and more shock resistant; in addition to being easier to weld in the manufacturing sealing process.

 

PETG is supplied crystal clear or can be supplied with ‘Medical’ Blue Tint.

 

Gamma Radiation Sterilisation is used by the medical industry for plastics. Gamma rays pass through the plastic at relatively low temperatures, thoroughly sterilising the plastic.

 

The different types of PET have varying degrees of tolerance to the radiation and PETG is more stable allowing the products to be irradiated within the packaging.

CPET Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate

 

CPET is a type of PET which is generally used for microwaveable and ovenable food packaging.  CPET’s crystalline properties means it is able to be moulded as part of the manufacturing processes, retaining its shape for later re-heating by end users.

 

CPET is partially crystallised during the plastic production process. This process gives CPET an opaque finish. This partially crystalline structure provides a stronger, more durable, plastic than rPET. CPET provides a highly effective protective barrier against oxygen, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

 

CPET is not available in clear material, and is usually be produced in black and other colours. Charpak can supply a standard version and also a NIR Black version (Near Infra-Red detectable). NIR CPET is detectable by Material Recovery Facilities (MRF’s) and so is more readily recyclable.

 

Products manufactured from CPET are suitable for temperature range of -40°C to +220°C.

 

CPET is best recommended for conventional freezer proof, ovenable and/or microwaveable products.

Contact our technical experts, design engineers and packaging technologists on 01480 434 434 or enquiries@charpak.co.uk to see how our award-winning team can help your business achieve its packaging and sustainability goals.

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