Plantic's PET project unveiled

Australia's Plantic Technologies has announced it has combined PET plastic with its Plantic biodegradable film to produce a renewable and recyclable ultra-high barrier packaging format, Plantic eco Plastic R.

Announced at the recent IFFA 2013 trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, the new product builds on the company's mainstay Plantic eco Plastic product to provide a packaging material which has ultra-high gas barrier properties and is made from up to 60 per cent renewable materials.

"Plantic eco Plastic R, unlike other barrier packaging formats, can be fully recycled with the PET recovered in the traditional recycling streams and with Plantic’s barrier material dissolving and biodegrading in the process," Plantic's CEO, Brendan Morris, said.

"The combination of renewable materials with recyclable materials is unique in the packaging sector and brings together the best of both bioplastics and traditional materials.

"Plantic eco Plastic R delivers for the environment too, with up to 60 per cent renewable materials coupled with recyclable PET content."

He said trays and roll stock made with the new material require no investment in new processing or packaging technology and can be directly substituted for existing materials into the supply chain.

"They are a drop-in replacement for a range of traditional plastics used in modified atmosphere and ultra-high barrier packaging,” Morris said.

The rigid trays and roll stock are offered in a high clarity transparent form as well as a variety of colours and multi-colour formats.