Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS), in collaboration with Tomra and Krones, has successfully demonstrated the mechanical recycling of XPS food trays, showcasing the feasibility, industrial efficiency, and recyclate quality of the process. This milestone test run, based on Krones’ pilot process for foamed polystyrene, marks a significant advancement in promoting the circular economy for styrenic polymers.
The recycling process leverages Tomra’s ‘deep sorting’ technology to produce a pure XPS feedstock from mixed PS sorted from separately collected household packaging waste. Krones then handles the shredding, hot washing, dewatering, and drying of the feedstock. The successful test not only confirms the technical capability of the process but also demonstrates its industrial feasibility in terms of competitiveness, typical recycling capacities, and favorable energy and water consumption levels.
SCS has also developed a design for recycling (DfR) guideline for XPS food trays, further enhancing their circularity by maximizing recycling yield and quality with the new recycling technology. Most XPS food trays already comply with this guideline, which adds to their already recognized effectiveness in ensuring food safety and their superior life cycle assessment.
Dr. Michael Gotsche, Head of Krones Recycling, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating, “We are pleased to have demonstrated with these trials that our leading washing technology also works for XPS food trays.”
Dr. Volker Rehrmann, EVP, Head of TOMRA Recycling, highlighted the importance of effective sorting in achieving a circular economy, noting the ease with which polystyrene can be ‘deep sorted.’
Jens Kathmann, Secretary General of SCS, emphasized the significance of XPS food trays in the circular economy, stating, “Next to yogurt pots, XPS food trays play an important role among PS packaging formats in the circular economy. They can become recycled content in many General Purpose PS applications, such as housewares, appliances, and insulation.”