Linpac: EFSA statement gives 100% recycled PET the 'all-clear' for foods

23 October 2013


Linpac Packaging has welcomed the decision by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to give an official positive opinion regarding the ‘super cleaning’ process used in the company’s factories in Spain, Italy, and Germany.

According to the company, Europe’s leading multi-material food packaging manufacturer and a leading pioneer of the use of recycled plastics in packaging, the authors of a report published by EFSA confirmed that the critical steps of the decontamination process that Linpac uses for its post-consumer PET produces a recycled product that does “not give rise to concern for a risk to human health”, even when used with 100% rPET.

Alan Davey, director of innovation at Linpac Packaging, says: “The European Food Safety Authority’s decision has to be welcome by the entire plastic packaging and recycling industries as it means that much more PET can now be recycled, further benefiting the environment and sustainability agenda set out by many European governments and global environment agencies.”

Linpac has invested more than £8 million in its in-house super cleaning technology during the past six years.

The company says it gives customers peace of mind as the trend towards the use of recycled plastics in food packaging grows.

According to Linpac, retailers and consumers are driving growth in the rPET market with demand for packaging with strong environmental credentials – rPET is easily recycled and “reduces carbon footprint by up to 70%” when compared to virgin PET.

Linpac has responded to this trend by developing a wide range of products which contain between 50% and 95% recyclate, including its new preformed rigid trays for vacuum skin packing applications and Rfresh Elite, a novel tray for meat and poultry which uses a unique, patented sealant on the tray flange to create a secure seal with the lidding film, thereby removing the need for a PE base film.

“The challenge for plastics processors supplying the food industry is ensuring that the recycled plastic is suitable for food use and free from contamination,” says Davey.

“Our in-house super cleaning technology, which is fully compliant to European regulations and is now successfully vetted by EFSA’s technical committee, means that we do not have to rely on third party suppliers for that guarantee.”

Furthermore, he adds, Linpac carries out migration and extraction testing regularly to ensure its processes are “not only meeting but exceeding” food safety standards with packs utilising 100% rPET.

“Our in-house system removes the risks associated with ABA functional barrier structures such as thinning or rupturing of the layers during sheet processing,” Davey says.



Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.