PET uses organic raw materials for sustainability

Despite being a plastic, the polyethylene (PET) terephture has strong durability identification information.

First, because it is sure for contact with food, it does not require treatments that could have an impact on its recyclability.

In addition, it is both light, which saves energy and transit emissions, and is solid and durable, protecting food longer and preventing food waste in its rigid and flexible applications. Due to the widespread use of its recycled form, Rpet, the development of Virgin Pet can be reduced.

Plastic could even be a solid competitor of the most durable food packaging material with wide use, with a view to Tim Sykes packaging in Europe.

The advantages of organic raw materials

However, when developed through organic raw materials, it could be even more durable.

TEP is generally created by polycondensation, a type of polymerization, using the dark acid of industrial compounds (TPA) and glycol ethylene.

Alternatively to that, PET can be produced with organic raw materials.

For example, the origin of the company develops equipment for PET using such raw materials.

With its technology, it divides lignocellulose, an abundant renewable biomass, in several chemical intermediaries, including Furfural (CMF) (CMF) (CMF) and hydrothermal carbon (HTC). The CMF can then be converted into paraxylene, which is the raw material for the manufacture of TPA, the main component of the PET.

“The nucleus is that everything is chemically based, not fermentation, but it uses biofeedstocks,” explains John Bissell, CEO of origin. These raw materials allow the company to develop the equipment that can enter into a pet.

Compared to petroleum pet, he says, emissions are slightly lower. They can even be negative, “if you use the right raw materials in the right areas”.

Enough raw materials

In addition, these raw materials come from online streams rather than being deliberately produced. “You can use the detritus of other wood treatment facilities – sawmills or pasta and paper mills, this kind of thing can be used as a raw material.”

Bissell also suggests that there is enough of this raw material available to correspond to the size of the pet market. “There are billions of tonnes of lignocellulose raw materials that could be used.”

Often these raw materials also depend on where you are in the world. For example, in Asia, rice shells and rice straw can often be used. In addition, the bagasse of sugar cane waste can be a raw material, just like fruit clusters emptying oil palm in Malaysia.

Another company that develops pet equipment with Bioss raw materials is India Glycols. In partnership with Scientific Design Inc, based in the United States, the company develops a biobed version of glycols, a crucial compound in PET, using sustainable agricultural materials.

One of these glycols is bio-meg, which can be used in PET for a variety of products, including the packaging of water and drinks. Depending on the company, it focuses on sustainability and carbon footprint when producing these materials.