Sometimes you hear about an idea that’s so simple and makes so much sense that you can’t believe it took this long to implement it, as magnetic ink for sustainable solutions.
PET beverage containers have often wrapped with PET-G (or sometimes polyvinyl chloride aka PVC) shrink-sleeve labels. The problem is that the labels are contaminants in the recycling process. They have a density higher than water. Therefore can’t be separated from PET flakes during the sink-float separation step of the recycling process. Thus, they contaminate the recycled PET stream and reduce the quality of recycled PET (rPET).
California has gone so far as to consider PET-G to not be PET and does not allow it to carry a #1 RIC code. Thus, perfectly recyclable PET bottles that use shrink-sleeve labels never make it to materials recovery facilities (MRFs). And usually end up in landfills.
A unique solution
A startup company called Magnomer has developed a unique and rather elegant solution. Their process applies a magnetic ink to the shrink labels. The ink can be transparent or of various colors. And has applied with standard label printing equipment.
When recovered bottles reach the processor, they have ground up as usual. As they leave the grinder for pelletizing, a magnet has used to attract and separate out the shrink label flakes.
Per a survey done by Magnomer in conjunction with the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), magnets are already in place to prevent metal contamination. So incremental investments, if required, will be minimal.
According to Ravish Majithia, founder and CEO of Magnomer. “What makes our system unique is its convenience. Recyclers get a cleaner PET stream without significant financial investments or changes in operating procedures. And consumers can simply drop the bottles in their recycling bins or return them for deposit repayments. Also, the need for consumers to look for and remember to remove perforated polyolefin labels prior to recycling has eliminated.”
Passes tests by American Fuji Seal
Magnomer has successfully tested their system with label producer American Fuji Seal. A global beverage company in fully commercialized, scaled up labelling and bottling facilities. They have engaged with the APR for their Innovation Recognition program. The Recognition program entails commercial-scale testing at a minimum of two MRFs and two reclaimers. Magnomer expects to receive APR recognition in Q1 2022.
There’s another benefit to Magnomer’s technology, the magnetic ink for sustainable solutions. It has benefits for paper recycling streams as well. It could allow materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to cost effectively use magnets to separate out laminated films, such as chips bags. This would help remove plastic contamination from paper bales, where these flexible packages often end up today.
(source: PlasticsToday)
