Recycling firm APK AG and printing inks producer Siegwerk successfully completed de-inking trials of twofold printed low density polyethylene (LDPE) films. The strategic collaboration between the two companies, which started in October 2019, is said to hold the key to facilitating the efficient recycling of flexible packaging applications. In spring 2020, the Research- and Development unit of APK AG tested a number of LDPE-film samples, which had been printed twofold with yellow, red, black and blue inks of Siegwerk. The test series aimed to establish, whether APK AG’s solvent-based recycling technology Newcycling could fully remove Siegwerk’s inks from the polymer matrix.
The de-inking tests of the red, black and blue samples produced a ‘near-virgin’ transparency. In case of the film printed with yellow ink a marginal yellowness remained after the treatment. ‘Design for recycling is crucial to closing the loop for flexible packaging. For Siegwerk this means providing innovative printing inks and lacquers, which facilitate high-quality recycling – for example by allowing easy de-inking while keeping full performance during the use phase‘, says Alina Marm, head of circular economy hub at Siegwerk.
‘The goal of a quality-driven recycling process is to create a recyclate, which is as transparent as feasible and which can once more be reused in packaging applications. Successful de-inking is essential‘, observes Klaus Wohnig, ceo of APK AG.
Source: Recycling International
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