RECYCLE PET PACKAGING

Design phase: recycle analysis
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is 100% recyclable. Already during the product’s design process, we start discussing aspects of recycling with the customer. We ask customers if they want to process recycled materials in their PET bottles and jars and we want to know what happens to the PET packaging after use. Also, what is the required minimum weight and what is the desired maximum weight? Based on this, we will determine, in cooperation with the customer, the design and choice of materials

Manufacturing: Recycling waste
During the manufacturing process, any PET waste is carefully collected and re-processed. The manufacturing process inevitably produces waste: For instance, there are start-up and material losses during colour changes. During the manufacturing process, we also consider the responsible use of PET packaging. We grind the waste and “upgrade” it to PET granulate, the feedstock for starting production of new PET products. AGI Plastek ensures the quality of feedstock, by which it distinguishes itself from its competitors

PEOPLE & SAFETY

Safety in the corporate culture
Safety is AGI Plastek’s number one priority. We always keep our employees, customers and visitors focused on safety within our organisation. This awareness for safety is reflected in the culture at PET Power and in our core values:

• open and transparent communication
• Integrity
• pride
• accountability
• customer-oriented
• solution-oriented approach

Operational safety management
All aspects of AGI Plastek’s operations are centred on health and safety. We conduct our operations with a minimal practical risk for our guests and employees. Together, we strive to prevent all accidents and industrial diseases.
Certainly, AGI Plastek meets the minimum requirements of national legislation. But because this issue is very important to us, we want to take it to the next level. We want to be the best in terms of health and safety. We can remain at the top only if we continue conducting process analyses and keep improving hazardous elements in the production process.

Safety: a personal responsibility
AGI PLASTEK’s management is proactively controlling and initiating a safe and healthy work environment. In addition, the company expects that employees follow the rules, that they actively contribute to a safe work environment and that they share their thoughts on how to improve safety at the workplace. To facilitate improvement, AGI Plastek’s management has defined objectives and targets based on available data, research and figures. Each year, these objectives are re-assessed and adjusted, and new goals are set.

BIOPLASTICS

In recent years, the market sees that more and more bioplastics are used as packaging. It is important to make a distinction between bio-based and bio-degradable packaging.

Bio-based plastics
These are made of renewable raw materials, such as starch, glucose, vegetable oils and cellulose. The raw materials are derived from different agricultural products or plant residues and subsequently transformed into basic substances to be processed into different types of bioplastics. Bio-based plastics are not necessarily biodegradable. In general, they have the same properties as their fossil predecessors. The big advantage of these raw materials is that they can be processed in an existing recycling process and that they can be re-used as basis for plastic products.

BioPET as a replacement for Virgin PET
BioPET has been around for some years now. It is a plastic based on 30% renewable raw material and 70% oil-based raw material. Coca-Cola, for example, has been using BioPET since 2009 in the form of the “Plant Bottle”. PET Power also offers its customers the possibility to use this type of plastic. The mechanical and thermical properties of BioPET are similar to other oil-based PET products. However, the colour tone may slightly differ, depending on the type. Tests with this type of material by AGI Plastek’s R&D Department show that BioPET can be easily processed and that it is an equivalent substitute of “Virgin PET” (new polyethylene terephthalate).

New developments in PET packaging
Research is conducted into the use of 100% bio-based PET. AGI Plastek is following these developments closely and collaborates with suppliers in joint testing.

Biodegradable plastics
Biodegradable plastics can be made from renewable raw materials and/or fossil fuel-based raw materials. They can be decomposed biologically by the action of living micro-organisms or by means of (industrial) composting