Ann Arbor’s Amcor Rigid Packaging (ARP) announced a technological advancement that can recycle billions of small bottles that would otherwise be discarded, thereby increasing the amount of material entering and passing through the recycling process.

"We know that in our material recovery facility (MRF) designed to separate glass, many small bottles are passing through the screen, so this is a major development-it allows these bottles to pass this step in the process, and There is an opportunity to be suitable downstream equipment," said Curt Cozart of the Plastic Recyclers Association. "When the recycling industry is restricted by material supply, every pound added from waste makes a big difference."

ARP is the first company to apply this technology to a 50ml spirit bottle-usually supplied on an airplane or placed in a hotel room. Although these bottles are made of recyclable materials, due to their small size, they are often screened out during the recycling process.

The development carried out by ARP engineers has studied how to ensure that the bottles are recycled and maximize the width of the bottles through available materials, so as to ensure that the bottles are not filtered out by broken glass and other debris.

Terry Patcheak, vice president of R&D and senior engineering at ARP, said: "This discovery was made by the Amcor team when tests showed that the bottle collapsed in different ways."

"Our simulations show that when these tiny spirits bottles are designed to fold in a specific way, fewer bottles actually fall from the cracks. The potential here is higher recoverability and multiple subdivisions. More recycling content of markets and materials."

The bottle design includes intentional failure points and is based on the guidelines of the Plastic Recyclers Association. Finite element analysis tests are being carried out to better understand the dynamics of these small bottles during the recycling process. In addition, ARP will work with recycling facilities to obtain real data on the recyclability of its new bottles.

"We look forward to seeing the data and continue to use this creative method to view all of our packaging," Patcheak said. "When working with APR, we are studying size, color, and materials to increase the amount of recycled materials that can be turned into more bottles. We look forward to working with customers as we use new perspectives to find ways to achieve our common sustainability Ways to develop goals."

Editor: RJ King Associate Editor: Grace Turner