Extrusion International 5-2025-USA

82 Extrusion International 5/2025 RECYCLING How to Use Recycled Plastics Previously Discarded for Food Contact Applications A t a time when the circular economy and sustainability are setting the roadmap for the plas- tics sector, AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is leading an in- novative research project, DECON- WASTE, focused on improving the recycling of plastic packaging and enabling its safe reuse in food con- tact applications. The project aims to research and develop new methods for cleaning and decontaminating recycled plas- tics, speci cally polyole ns – a type of material widely used in packag- ing. To achieve this, DECONWASTE will explore advanced decontami- nation techniques capable of trans- forming post-consumer waste into safe recycled materials, following the guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Unlike other materials such as PET, recycling polyole ns presents signi cant technical challenges. “Their wide range of uses, the presence of multiple additives, and their chemical behaviour make decontamination processes more complex and require specialized technologies,” explained Adrián Morales, lead researcher in Me- chanical Recycling at AIMPLAS. Additionally, the inability to easily distinguish between food and non- food packaging during recycling, or to trace the food-related origin of recycled packaging, complicates subsequent processing stages. “For this reason, it is essential to research and develop new effective decontamination methods that ad- dress these challenges and ensure the safety of recycled materials for food contact use,” Morales empha- sized. He added that the initiative aims “not only to comply with Eu- ropean regulations and directives but also to ensure consumer pro- tection and trust in packaged food products.” In this regard, DECONWASTE will work on developing effective meth- ods to overcome these obstacles and ensure that recycled materials meet safety standards for reuse in food applications. This advance- ment represents an opportunity for companies—especially SMEs—to incorporate recycled materials into their production processes with guaranteed safety and traceability. A Strategic Alliance with Key Companies The project involves collabora- tion with ACTECO, SPBERNER, and PICDA – companies committed to innovation and sustainability that are actively participating in validat- ing the developed technologies. Additionally, DECONWASTE aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), speci cally goals 8, 9, and 12. The project is funded by the Va- lencian Institute for Competitive- ness and Innovation (IVACE+i) through the 2024 call for Strategic Cooperation Projects, and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). AIMPLAS highlighted that “this research will allow companies to overcome one of the main bottle- necks in polyole n recycling, en - abling the use of materials previ- ously discarded in the manufacture of new packaging or other products intended for direct food contact.” With this project, AIMPLAS once again positions itself as a leader in applying science and technology to major sustainability challenges in the plastics industry, promoting a more circular, safe, and environ- mentally aligned economy in line with European policies. AIMPLAS www.aimplas.es