NIR can sort new black CPET in mixed plastic

Færch Plast, a leading manufacturer of plastic packaging for the food industry, has developed a new black crystalline polyethylene (CPET) packaging material that makes it possible for recyclers to sort black CPET in the mixed plastic waste stream using NIR technology. The new material was developed in conjunction with WRAP, Nextek, Titech, Eurofins and the leading UK supermarket retailers.

Jesper Emil Jensen, Senior Manager at Færch Plast A/S comments “Faerch Plast continually conducts research into the raw materials it uses and during the past 12 months the business has been heavily involved in a project aimed at making black trays more recyclable.”

“Until now, recycling of black CPET has not been possible as it can’t be detected by the NIR sensors used by most recyclers. It has been a complicated project because the current pigment is both good at what it does and is also the cheapest form of black available on the market.” He concludes “However, I am delighted to report that after considerable testing and trials using different dyes and pigments we now have a ‘World First’ recyclable solution that is cost effective, aesthetically pleasing and functional.”