Konica Minolta the leader in measuring color
Published

Unilever Introduces Process to Recycle Multilayer Sachets

Plastics from the post-consumer sachets will be channeled back into the supply chain.

Share

A major brand is once taking on a big initiative toward reducing plastic waste: Unilever announced it is working with partners on a new technology to recycle sachets (aka multi-layer flexible packaging consisting of a thin film of plastic and aluminum). Called the CreaSolv Process, this technology has been developed with the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Germany and is inspired by an innovation used to recycle TV sets.

Billions of single-use sachets are sold every year, particularly in developing and emerging markets. But without a viable recycling solution, the packaging ends up in landfill or as litter.

The CreaSolv Process technology has been adapted from a method used to separate brominated flame retardants from waste electrical and electronic equipment polymers. During the process, the plastic is recovered from the sachet, and then reapplied in the creation of new sachets for Unilever products.

To tackle the industry-wide sachet waste issue, Unilever is looking to create a sustainable system change by setting up waste collection schemes to channel the sachets towards recycling. Currently, Unilever is testing this by working with local waste banks, governments and retailers. It will also look to empower waste pickers, integrating them into the mainstream economy and providing them potential long-term income.

Unilever will open a pilot plant in Indonesia later this year to test the long-term commercial viability of the technology. Indonesia, is a critical country in which to tackle the waste, as it produces 64 million metric tons every year, with 1.3 million metric tons ending up in the ocean.

David Blanchard, chief R&D officer at Unilever, said that at the start of this year, the company made a commitment to help solve this problem by developing new recycling technologies. The company intends to make the technology open source, with hopes to scale it up with industry partners, so that in the end, others—including its competitors—can use it.

“There is a clear economic case for delivering this,” he stated. “We know that globally $80-120 billion is lost to the economy through failing to properly recycle plastics each year. Finding a solution represents a huge opportunity. We believe that our commitment to making 100% of our packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable will support the long-term growth of our business.”

This announcement is part of Unilever’s pledge to ensure all of its plastic packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

Andreas Mäurer, department head of plastic recycling at the Fraunhofer IVV stated:

"With this innovative pilot plant we can, for the first time ever, recycle high-value polymers from dirty, post-consumer, multi-layer sachets. Our aim is to prove the economic profitability and environmental benefits of the CreaSolv Process. Our calculations indicate that we are able to recover six kilos of pure polymers with the same energy effort as the production of one kilo of virgin polymer."

According to Fraunhofer IVV, the plastics that are recycled from contaminated mixtures or composite materials have properties equivalent to those of the virgin plastics.

The 3 main steps in the process are:

  • Dissolution of the target plastic using a selective solvent; other components in the waste fraction remain undissolved;
  • Separation of contaminants from the recovered polymer solution;
  • Precipitation of the target plastic from the purified polymer solution.

Unilever sachet

Cranes, Conveyors, Racks, Loaders, Accessories
AM Workshop
NPE2024: The Plastics Show
Plastics Recycling Latam
New 2024 Twin Screw Report
Windmoeller
Make Every Pellet Count
Vecoplan
Uway LLC
Shuttle Mold System
Advantage temperature control units
Maguire Ultra

Related Content

New Facility Refreshes Post-Consumer PP by Washing Out Additives, Contaminants

PureCycle prepares to scale up its novel solvent recycling approach as new facility nears completion.

Read More
sustainability

Evolving Opportunities for Ambitious Plastics Recycler

St. Joseph Plastics grew from a simple grinding operation and now pursues growing markets in recycled PP, food-grade recycled materials, and customized post-industrial and post-consumer compounds.

Read More

Automotive Awards Highlight ‘Firsts,’ Emerging Technologies

Annual SPE event recognizes sustainability as a major theme.

Read More
Elastomers

Sugar-Based Plastics Developments Advance Further

Research team from universities of Birmingham and Duke zero in on sugar-based compound that produces TPEs with highest  performance.

Read More

Read Next

Extrusion

How Polymer Melts in Single-Screw Extruders

Understanding how polymer melts in a single-screw extruder could help you optimize your screw design to eliminate defect-causing solid polymer fragments.  

Read More
sustainability

Lead the Conversation, Change the Conversation

Coverage of single-use plastics can be both misleading and demoralizing. Here are 10 tips for changing the perception of the plastics industry at your company and in your community.

Read More
Injection Molding

Processor Turns to AI to Help Keep Machines Humming

At captive processor McConkey, a new generation of artificial intelligence models, highlighted by ChatGPT, is helping it wade through the shortage of skilled labor and keep its production lines churning out good parts.

Read More
RoyAlloy Stainless Mold Base Steel