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Plastic Recycling September 18, 2017 12:30:53 PM

Brand New Technology Converts Recycled Plastic Scrap Into Trash Bags

Paul Ploumis
ScrapMonster Author
As an initial step, postindustrial plastic scrap was collected by Bemis. The collected scrap materials were sent to Polykar for additional processing.

Brand New Technology Converts Recycled Plastic Scrap Into Trash Bags

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics along with its partners has announced that it has developed a new technology to create trash bags from postindustrial plastic scrap. The breakthrough science-based resource-recovery technology promotes sustainable industry practices to address the ever-increasing menace of marine litter.

The project was carried out in collaboration with Trash Free Seas Alliance and was supported by packaging solutions provider Bemis Co. Inc. and Quebec-based Polykar Inc. Jeff Wooster, global sustainability director for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics noted that the combined effort by all parties involved has led to development of a practical solution to recover plastic waste and reduction of marine debris. The project is expected to deliver significant improvement in postindustrial recycling rates, Wooster hoped.

As an initial step, postindustrial plastic scrap was collected by Bemis. The collected scrap materials were sent to Polykar for additional processing. The reclaimed plastics were further processed by plastics recycling machines by making use of Dow’s RETAIN technology, to produce recycled plastic resins which in turn were used in the manufacture of bags.

The amount of plastic waste entering the ocean has increased alarmingly over the recent years and has caused significant economic and environmental damage. According to rough estimates, over 80% of the ocean plastics are generated by land sources. The plastic waste that remains uncollected accounts for nearly 75% of the leakage that occurs from land-based sources. The new technology helps to treat the plastic waste before it makes its way into the ocean, thereby reducing plastic marine debris. Surprisingly, only 9% of all plastics produced across the world is being recycled, as pointed out by studies.

Emily Woglom, executive vice president at Ocean Conservancy noted that the new technology is an exciting step forward. It is one among the several concrete solutions developed by the Trash Free Seas Alliance in collaboration with other partners to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean through proper waste management techniques.

The collaboration is believed to have produced around 300,000 recycled plastic trash bags till date. These trash bags were used to clean up beaches during the International Coastal Cleanup Campaign held Saturday, September 16th to fight ocean trash.

Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics is a business division of DowDuPont Materials Science. Bemis Co. Inc. is a major supplier of flexible and rigid plastic packaging. Polykar is a family business based in Saint-Laurent, Québec.

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