Written on: June 20, 2023 by SprayTM
Plastipack Packaging, manufacturers of plastic aerosol containers, has collaborated with LanzaTech Global, a carbon capture and transformation (CCT) company that converts waste carbon into sustainable fuels, fabrics, packaging and other products, to produce a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin made from waste carbon. Called PPKNatura, the resin is suitable for food, personal care and pharmaceutical packaging, as well as other non-packaging applications.
PET is a polymer that is molded into plastic bottles and containers for packaging foods and beverages, personal care products, and many other consumer goods. PET resin comprises 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) traditionally derived from petroleum. PPKNatura leverages CarbonSmartTM MEG from LanzaTech’s CCT process. It retains the technical properties of virgin fossil PET while carrying a lower carbon footprint. As a result, PPKNatura can be used for traditional food and pharmaceutical-grade packaging and other sensitive applications such as hot-fill, refillables, and applications where a low crystallinity is required.
In addition, PPKNatura resin helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and its production process does not require land or food resources, said the companies. Packaging made out of this material can be fully recycled.
“LanzaTech’s commercial technology is designed to enable our partners in diverse industries to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact,” said Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech.
“Today we are producing food- and pharmaceutical-grade packaging and are well on our way to creating a more sustainable future for all,” she added.
LanzaTech’s CCT technology works like a brewery in which proprietary bacteria consume pollution and convert it into CarbonSmart chemicals. Those chemicals are then turned into products ranging from clothing and laundry detergent to sustainable aviation fuel. Using a variety of waste feedstocks, LanzaTech’s technology platform is creating a future where consumers are not dependent on virgin fossil inputs for everything in their daily lives.
“We are delighted to partner with LanzaTech to achieve early progress in our ambition to produce PET with lower environmental impacts,” said Pedro Martins, Executive Managing Director Europe of Plastipak.
“PPKNatura resin is one element of Plastipak’s ESG program, which among other initiatives, targets the extension of our product circularity with the intent of supporting customers in reducing their Scope 3 emissions,” Martins added.
