A partnership led by Total today (7 Dec) announced that they have successfully run a pilot test aiming at using certified chemically recycled polystyrene in food grade plastic yogurt pots.
The group says this is the first step of a collaborative initiative aiming at testing the use of chemically recycled polystyrene in yogurt pots, supporting the development of sustainable PS recycling in France.
This test led by Total in partnership with Intraplás, expert in the extrusion of plastic sheets for the food industry, and Yoplait, key player of the yogurt sector, is an ‘important achievement’ in establishing chemical recycling as a valid route for polystyrene recycling in France, the group says.
Total says it is ‘leveraging’ its industrial expertise to process feedstock derived from post-consumer mixed plastic waste which is otherwise hard to recycle via existing recycling channels.
By converting this secondary raw material in its steam cracker in Antwerp, covered by ISCC Plus certification, Total says it is able to produce ‘certified chemically recycled polystyrene’.
The produced certified circular rPS has the benefits of exhibiting virgin-like performance, Total says, enabling its incorporation in high-end applications, including food-grade packaging.
This was demonstrated by Intraplás, that successfully transformed Total’s certified circular rPS into dairy sheets, and finally, by Yoplait, in yogurt pots.
It is an important milestone in our journey to engage the value chain in creating a circular economy for polystyrene in France, and for our roadmap targeting 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025
The group says this is an ‘important achievement’ in establishing chemical recycling as a valid route for polystyrene recycling and close the loop in dairy applications.
“This project is a great illustration of innovation and collaboration with Intraplás and Yoplait, which demonstrates our common commitment to make polystyrene circular for food-grade packaging,” said Valérie Goff, Senior Vice President, Polymers at Total.
“This marks a further milestone in addressing the challenge of the circular economy and achieving TOTAL’s ambition of producing 30% recycled polymers by 2030.”
This follows the announcement that Total will be constructing France’s first chemical recycling plant on its future zero-crude platform in Grandpuits with Plastic Energy.
“We understand innovation as a strategic factor for sustainable development and involvement of the parties,” said Anabela Ferreira, co-owner and executive member of Intraplás.
“In this way, we are very proud and satisfied for having managed to join the value chain of the food sector, in this specific project, which promotes the circular economy of polystyrene food packaging, guaranteeing the total safety of consumers.“
“We are glad to support this collective initiative as it demonstrates our ability to use certified circular rPS to produce yogurt pots,” said Frédéric Chapuis, Sustainable Packaging Strategy Manager at Yoplait.
“It is an important milestone in our journey to engage the value chain in creating a circular economy for polystyrene in France, and for our roadmap targeting 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.”
