Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR) announced that its Liquid State Polycondensation (LSP) Process for advanced PET Recycling has received a positive Scientific Opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

This achievement marks a groundbreaking milestone as LSP becomes the first recycling process to complete evaluation under the updated regulation (EU) 2022/1616.

NGR’s LSP process.

New standards from the EU

The introduction of regulation (EU) 2022/1616 in September 2022 revolutionized food-grade recycling approvals across the European Union. Unlike the previous regulation (EC) 282/2008, where individual recyclers sought authorization, the responsibility now lies with developers of decontamination processes.

Each approved process is assigned a unique Recycling Process Authorisation Number (RAN) and listed in a public register.

Liquid State Polycondensation (LSP) Process

Unlike traditional solid state polycondensation (SSP), which requires prolonged high-temperature processing in a vacuum, the LSP Process harnesses the faster reaction rates in the melt phase. This significantly reduces energy consumption and processing time while delivering high-quality results.

P:REACT 2000 plus utilizing LSP Technology.

The combination of high molecular agility in the liquid phase and the large surface area of the material strands ensures highly effective purification. The LSP process provides a consistent increase in intrinsic viscosity (IV) levels, with precise control and stability over extended operations.

The LSP Technology is available for all four machine sizes – P:REACT 600, 1200, 2000, and 3000, with all achieve positive Scientific Opinion from the EFSA.

Rigorous challenge testing has proven its exceptional decontamination efficiency, meeting and exceeding the highest food safety standards.