EFSA green light for post-consumer PET process

Related tags Polyethylene terephthalate

EFSA backs post-consumer recycled PET process
EFSA backs post-consumer recycled PET process
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has backed a method used to recycle post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for use in food contact materials.

In the method, post-consumer PET articles are processed into hot caustic washed and dried flakes which are used as input of the MOPET process. Washed flakes are further extruded in step 2 then crystallised and solid-state polymerised (SSP) in step 3.

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) said that whilethe extrusion contributes to the decontamination efficiency, the decontamination in the batch SSP reactor is the critical step that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Netherlands, requested the evaluation of the recycling process submitted on behalf of Morssinkhof Plastics Zeewolde BV.

“After having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that the batch SSP reactor (step 3) is the critical step for the decontamination efficiency of the process,” ​said the panel.

“The operating parameters to control its performance are the temperature, pressure, residence time and inert gas flow.”

Related topics Processing & Packaging

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