Joint pilot testing on horizontal recycling of printed BOPP film

Toppan, Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello and Mitsui Chemicals have launched their pilot testing for horizontal recycling printed BOPP film.

Through this joint pilot testing, the three companies aim to establish technologies and operational infrastructure for the horizontalrecycling of flexible packaging materials, as well as leverage network growth in the flexible packaging materials industry to advance and expand the horizontal recycling of flexible packaging film.

In May 2022, Mitsui Chemicals launched RePLAYER Renewable Plastics Layer System, an initiative that aims to recover film waste from flexible packaging material converters, remove any ink from it, turn the remaining material into pellets and turn them into new flexible packaging film. The company then began discussing the basis of joint pilot testing with Toppan and Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello.

Toppan, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello are responsible for different roles in the joint pilot testing of horizontal recycling printed BOPP film.

Roles based on expertise

In the joint pilot testing, the three companies are responsible for carrying out their respective roles based on their strengths.

Toppan, with converting technology and recycled film expertise, generates BOPP film waste from processes such as printing adjustment. The company is also responsible for evaluating the recycled BOPP film’s quality, especially its suitability for printing, lamination, and the creation and filling of flexible pouches.

As polypropylene resin expertise for resin composition, modification, measurement and analysis technology, Mitsui Chemicals removes the film waste’s printing, recover the waste and converts it into pellets. The company also provides the eco-friendly adhesive, which is used in the lamination process.

Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello, which is a BOPP film production technology expertise, then makes recycled BOPP film from the pellets.

The Japanese Government’s Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics includes a target of transitioning to reusable or recyclable plastic designs by 2025. Milestones under the strategy for 2030 include 60% of plastic containers and packaging should be reused or recycled, and the recycling of plastic resources should be doubled.

With the joint pilot testing on horizontal recycling of printed BOPP film, the target set by the Japanese Government will be gradually achieved.