The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the food-contact compliance of postconsumer recycled high-density polyethylene (PCR HDPE) produced with Austria-based Erema’s Intarema TVEplus RegrindPro extrusion system in combination with the ReFresher module. According to a news release from Erema, this approval opens up new opportunities to close the loop in food packaging made of HDPE.

“FDA approval means that new food packaging can contain up to 100 percent of PCR HDPE produced using this recycling process,” says Clemens Kitzberger, business development manager in the Erema Group for the postconsumer sector.

The starting material for the PCR HDPE is a defined postconsumer input stream consisting of 99 percent food containers, such as milk and juice bottles. PCR HDPE produced from this can be processed into bottles, food dishes and similar products, Erema reports in a news release announcing the FDA approval.

“The high decontamination performance of our machine is thanks to the pretreatment of the material during the one-hour dwell time in the preconditioning unit of the recycling extruder and the additional removal of low-volatility odorous substances from the granulate by the ReFresher,” says Michael Heitzinger, managing director Erema GmbH, explaining the quality advantages of this recycling process.

According to Erema, the efficiency of the ReFresher was tested and confirmed in a separate challenge test using highly contaminated input material.

As early as April, this recycling technology was the decisive factor in Werner & Mertz’s joint project with Erema and The Group with the Green Dot to launch the world’s first approved shower gel bottle for the cosmetics sector, manufactured with 100 percent PCR HDPE collected in yellow household recycling bags.

In addition, Erema plans to showcase its ReFresher technology during K 2019, which takes place Oct. 16-23 in Düsseldorf, Germany.