Packaging
PLASTIC CONTAINERS: DRINKTEC 2009 EXHIBITS THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM
Tuesday 28. July 2009 - Plastics have an impressive track record as a material used for beverage and liquid food containers. In a comparatively short period of time they have developed into the most important type of packaging in this segment worldwide.
However this success has also brought with it problems for the industry. For example crude oil, the basic raw material for plastics, is a dwindling resource, and supplying the plastic required will not become any easier if demand really takes off. Both developments are leading to a search for new approaches and alternative materials, so at drinktec 2009, World Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology, it is not just about PET. Abbreviations such as PEN, PP, PS and PLA will also be hot topics for discussion in the Munich exhibition halls from 14 to 19 September.
PET success story
When plastic and beverages are mentioned in the same breath, we think first of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) – and rightly so, because this plastic has changed both the packaging and the machinery in the beverage world. But success also has its down side. The demand for PET is already so great that there is no longer an unlimited supply of the material required to produce the bottles in the appropriate quantity and quality. And this applies to both virgin and recycled material.
PETpoint: everything to do with PET
Once again PET is extremely well represented at drinktec 2009. Under the label PETpoint everything in Hall B3, which covers 11,000 square metres, is centred on PET. Preform manufacturers are represented, as are blow-moulding machine producers, suppliers of recycling equipment, closure suppliers, container developers and designers and converters, that is to say all companies involved in the PET production process. The co-organiser of PETpoint is the magazine PETplanet Insider, from Heidelberg publishing house hb media. In addition the full-service providers in Halls B6, A6, and B4 also exhibit all aspects of PET.
PEN, PP and PS: alternatives to PET
Despite, or perhaps even because of the success of PET, research into alternatives is in full swing. One of the best known options is PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) – a raw material with outstanding material properties but also a high price, making it of most interest to returnable containers. Polypropylene bottles (PP) on the other hand are only suitable for non-carbonated beverages, but for these and for milk and milk-based beverages or juices in particular, they are a very good cost-effective alternative, especially since PP is guaranteed to be transparent.
Another interesting alternative to PET is now coming into play in the form of a new PS material (polystyrene), because PET and PS are similar both visually and to the touch. But much lighter bottles with the same wall thickness can be produced with PS using the current PET equipment – with lower processing costs. In addition it can be repeatedly recycled very well. However, PS is currently only suitable for non-carbonated beverages.
Regenerative raw materials have a great future
However, all new plastics have the same problem as PET – they are based on crude oil. Consequently regenerative raw materials could also have a big future in the packaging sector. And now the first bioplastics are present in the (non-carbonated) beverage market and in the processing of liquid foods. Experts estimate that the market for bioplastics will grow by 20 to 25 percent per year up to 2020.
Much is expected of the material polylactide (PLA) in particular, because its properties are very similar to those of PET. Its transparency and cyclability make PLA eminently suitable for problem-free use in the food packaging industry using existing equipment. Although the price of PLA is currently much higher than that of PET, with growing production figures the PLA production costs should come down over the next few years. Nevertheless PLA also has disadvantages – its softening point is around 60ºC, which of course restricts how it can be used.
2nd PLA Bottle Conference
To find out more about PLA, visit the 2nd PLA Bottle Conference, part of drinktecs supporting programme, organized by bioplastics Magazine. The two-day event covers topics such as: market overview; raw material availability; latest developments; preform and bottle making; high temperature behaviour; barrier issues; additives / colorants; labels, closures, end-of-life options (recycling, composting, incineration etc). The conference is being held on 14 and 15 September in the Holiday Inn in Munich City Centre, and will be rounded off with a guided tour of drinktec on 16 September. For further information go to www.drinktec.com and www.pla-bottle-conference.com.
PHB: A sleeping giant
However PLA is not the only interesting bioplastic. The biopolymer polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB), for example, is also regarded as a sleeping giant. PHB is a polyester which is fermentatively produced from renewable resources, with properties similar to those of the well-known plastic polypropylene. It has a melting point of over 130ºC, forms clear films and has outstanding mechanical properties.
The subject of recycling must be resolved
But irrespective of whether materials are petrochemical or regenerative, they all have one thing in common – answers must be found to the question of recycling. This is an important issue partly because bioplastics are not as easily composted as you might think, and also because they are simply too valuable as materials to be used just once.
PET is a very good example of what is possible in the area of recycling. Already up to 50 percent of PET recycled material can be used problem-free in the production of new goods. The target is to expand this proportion to up to 80 percent. The big topic in recycling at the moment though is that too little used bottle material is available, or is being disposed of in other ways. Ways to successfully counter this shrinkage are also being presented at drinktec 2009 from 14 to 19 September 2009 at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.
3rd PET World Congress
And theres more: trade visitors with an interest in how much potential PET still has and how this globally popular raw material can be adapted for the demands of the future can find out the answers at the 3rd PET World Congress From Pellet to Pallet, which is taking place on 16 and 17 September in the ICM right next to the exhibition halls.