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Bottle design
APR details five areas of focus for PET bottle designs
1:47 min
Bottle development and design
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, has confirmed its Five for Focus area that highlights and addresses key components of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container design that can affect recycling. Each of the design areas the APR has identified has the potential to negatively affect the quality and value of recycled PET or cause bottles to be pulled or misdirected from the PET recycling stream, the association says.
The APR recently communicated the Five for Focus to its member companies in conjunction with the trade organization’s March meetings. All were identified through the APR’s long-standing “problem container” reporting process as commonly cited and impactful design issues:
- Metal components attached to PET packaging – These components increase operating costs and yield loss, are a primary source of defects in products made with recycled PET and will not be recycled if removed from the stream by metal detectors.
- PETG sleeve labels – These labels can reduce the quality of rPET (recycled PET) and increase yield loss, while bottle coverage can impede PET sortation.
- Pressure sensitive labels – Full-coverage adhesive can be difficult to remove from recycled PET, and inks and adhesives can be sources of discoloration for PET.
- Barrier layers – Additives and non-PET layers providing oxygen scavengers or CO2 barriers are sources of discoloration and defects in products made from recycled PET.
- PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) extrusion blow-molded containers – PETG is a copolymer that is not compatible with commonly used container grade PET.
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