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9th Nov 2021
The Plastics Recycling Awards Europe recognise and celebrate achievement throughout the scope of the European plastics recycling industry. The awards offer an insight into current developments in recycled material usage, product design and innovative manufacturing.
Together with Braskem and premium clothing company Joules, we impressed the judges with our entry to the Plastic Packaging Product 2021 category with a circular packaging solution consisting of 50% bio-based polyethylene and 50% recycled material (PCR). This solution was designed and implemented for specific sales processes at Joules.
With COVID-19 there were not only restrictions for retailers to adapt to, but also a new shopping behaviour on the part of customers. Goods were ordered online and then picked up in or at the store, with minimal contact with sales associates and other customers. The challenge was to develop a packaging product with a clear plastic side that would allow staff, both in the distribution centre and in stores, as well as customers, to see the products without opening the bag, reducing possible touch points.
Additionally, since this bag was consequently designed to be more of a disposable product, it was very important to make it fully recyclable and circular. For this reason, the production process reuses polyethylene produced as part of Joules’ business processes. This recycled granulate is mixed with Braskem’s I’m greenTM PE, which is derived from sugarcane. In addition to improving the mechanical properties of the bag, the negative carbon footprint of I’m greenTM PE allows the emissions from the recycling process to be offset at the same time. The final product is therefore completely free of petrochemical virgin resin with a neutral carbon footprint.
The Joules Click & Collect Bag is not only interesting in a circular way because of the materials used, but also because of the entire creation process behind it. As one of the first projects of its kind, it is proof that the performance of recycled material is equal to that of virgin material.
The winners of the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2021 were announced on November 5th during the second day of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe, which took place at RAI Amsterdam.