Ireland-based Holfeld said its new Diamat technology, a plastic extruder, can processes PET sheets with up to 50% recycled post-consumer PET.
In a statement, the firm said: “The decontamination process is the nub; it involves 50% r-PET and 50% virgin flake (no more than 5% non food consumer waste) being heated in a reactor resulting in the crystallisation of the flake. The flakes are then decontaminated through two consecutive extrusion steps including multiple vacuum degassing.”
Food contact PET sheets are then extruded. These are examined in a rigorous quality control environment for intrinsic viscosity, colour, deformities, blemishes and black specks, the firm said. The approved sheets are then formed into trays and punnets for the red meat, poultry, fish and fresh produce market sectors.
‘Decontamination efficiency’
The EFSA said: “The panel considered that the process is well characterised and the main steps used to recycle the PET flakes into decontaminated PET sheets are identified.
“After having examined the challenge tests provided the panel concluded that step three (two consecutive extrusions including multiple degassing) is the critical step for the decontamination efficiency of the process…. the panel considered that the recycling process is able to reduce any foreseeable accidental contamination of the post-consumer contact PET to a concentration that does not give rise to concern for a risk to human health…”
Speaking to PN, Holfeld research and development manager Pat Ward said: “Our Diamat technology has been approved by the EFSA at a time when food safety is topical.”
He said it will allow its customers to ensure that its PET sheets are “properly manufactured and 100% safe.”
He added: ‘This is a major breakthrough for Holfeld. With today’s accent very much on decontamination and food safety this process will allow our customers and the consumer absolute trust in Holfeld’s meat and fresh produce trays.”
Ward also said that the approval puts Holfeld on an EC list of approved systems for processing post-consumer rPET food packaging, which ties into the EC regulation relation to recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods (282/2008).
Ward said that the EC is currently compiling a list of approved systems for rPET food packaging and if companies are not on that list they will not be able to operate.
