Company: Process Recycles PET into Food-Contact Plastic

A California-based company has said it has developed a process to turn recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into plastic that can be used to package foods.

The development could pave the way for processors to further emphasize their "green" credentials, by allowing them to use recycled plastics in packaging their products.

Recycled plastics pose problems for reuse as food containers, as the material may contain contaminants accumulated during the process.

ECO2 Plastics said initial test results demonstrate that the company's proprietary cleaning process can produce PET plastic flake that is suitably pure for use in the manufacturing of food-contact containers.

The tests were performed by the National Food Laboratory.

Rod Rougelot, ECO2's chief executive officer said based on the tests, the company's lawyers have concluded that the process meets the food-contact standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Not only are we recycling PET bottles in an environmentally friendly way, but we are delivering the highest possible quality through the process as well," he stated.

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