Recent research and development
Recent studies suggested that when polystyrene is utilized as the middle layer in an ABA structure for food packaging, such as yogurt containers, It can act as an acceptable functional barrier for PS recyclate.
Fraunhofer IVV conducted thorough research highlighting the poor diffusion characteristics of polystyrene.
Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS), the value-adding effort to actualize the circular economy for styrenic polymers, declared that rigid food packaging made of technically recycled PS (rPS) may employ polystyrene (PS) as a safe functional barrier. A scientific investigation carried out by Fraunhofer IVV lends credence to these conclusions.
The extensive investigation put PS’s ability to act as a functional barrier under stress by utilizing rPS that had been intentionally contaminated as the intermediate layer of an ABA structure that had been coextruded. It reaffirmed PS’s small diffusion qualities, which, like PET, allow for the appropriate use of systematically recycled PS in applications involving food contact when it is protected by a functioning PS barrier.
Testing by Fraunhofer IVV on actual yogurt containers demonstrated the safety of an ABA construction with up to 50% regenerated polystyrene content. Every stiff thermoformed PS package can use the findings.
SCS Secretary-General Jens Kathmann remarked, “This is another significant step for SCS. Now, we have not only multiple recycling technologies in place, from food contact mechanical recycling, and dissolution to the chemical recycling technology depolymerization, all of which enable easy recycling of post-consumer PS waste to food contact material, over and over again. We also have multiple mechanical processes, like those of our partners NGR and Gneuss, which have proven to recycle PS to food-grade standards. In addition, this study now demonstrates a second safe solution for incorporating mechanically recycled PS content in food contact materials. These results again broaden the range of circular options for the PS value chain.”
Claudio Bilotti, Polystyrene Marketing Manager of Versalis (ENI), noted: “This is exciting news, as the value chain now has another solution for incorporating rPS into food contact applications that can be placed on the market right away. The proven functional barrier can be used immediately for yogurt pots with rPS content as well as any rigid PS food contact packaging and expanded PS trays.”
