At interpack 2023, Leonard Kurz presented Recocys 2.0, a further development of the take-back and recycling system for PET transfer materials launched by Kurz, the first company in the world to introduce a system like this in the plastic industry.
The first major step in this direction was taken with the introduction of Recocys and the post-industrial compound Recopound. The recycled injection-moulded granulate already saves up to 40% CO₂ compared to virgin material, is suitable for the production of stable and durable plastic products, and can also be decorated to a high quality. Thanks to optimised processes, Recocys 2.0 now not only enables even more Kurz products to be reclaimed, but also expands the application possibilities of the recycled material.
The Fürth-based thin-film specialist is thus taking the packaging industry one step closer to the circular economy. With the help of Recocys 2.0, surplus carrier materials from the graphic industry can now be processed into recycled PET (abbreviated: rPET) for the first time. rPET is used, among other things, in the manufacture of plastic bottles or plastic packaging and also offers a wide range of possible uses.
“We are currently the only manufacturer in the industry that converts the PET carrier of our ultra-thin transfer decoration into valuable raw material. Our long-term goal is to recycle all our products and use them to produce new carrier material. This will enable us to achieve a truly circular economy in the future, where excess material no longer has to end up in the trash,” says Rolf Schmidtke, Recocys 2.0 project manager.
Confirmed by accredited environmental institute
All customers participating in Recocys receive a recycling certificate, which is confirmed by the independent environmental expert organisation Intechnica Cert GmbH. This certificate confirms the traceability of the process, and transparency towards end customers and consumers. It also provides information on the annual CO₂ savings.
Recocys 2.0 can also reduce scope 3 emissions – greenhouse gas emissions along a company’s entire value chain – by up to 90%. This is achieved, among other things, by avoiding burning carrier materials, a lower product carbon footprint (PCF) and general conservation of resources, as the use of primary raw materials for the extraction of PET is not necessary. With Recocys 2.0, Kurz customers get a demonstrably optimised sustainability balance and a distinct competitive advantage that also benefits the environment.
Caption:
Kurz converts the PET carrier of its ultra-thin transfer decoration into valuable raw material
