PureCycle Reports Promising Results in BOPP Film Tests with PureFive™ Resin

Photo Credit: PureCycle

PureCycle Technologies Inc., an advanced recycling company headquartered in Florida, has announced significant advancements in the application of its PureFive™ resin for industrial biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film trials. The latest round of testing was carried out by Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH, a globally renowned manufacturer of stretching film production lines, based in Siegsdorf, Germany.

According to PureCycle, the trials utilized resin blends containing between 15% and 50% PureFive™, sourced from the company’s commercial-scale facility in Ironton, Ohio. The films, extruded at Brückner’s German production site, reportedly exhibited performance levels comparable to those of virgin polypropylene (PP) across multiple tests. Further stretch testing is planned to take place later this month to build on these promising results.

Commenting on the developments, PureCycle CEO Dustin Olson underscored the importance of the findings, stating, “Flexible packaging is one of the largest segments for polypropylene, and there is not a traditionally recycled material that can consistently meet the high purity demands required to make film. The early results are encouraging from the trials with Brückner, and it gives me confidence we can meet the stringent processing requirements.” He further added, “Brückner is known as a trusted BOPP equipment manufacturer and resource for BOPP film producers, so it was critical for us to have these trials handled by their experts in Germany. We look forward to additional trials later this month.”

BOPP films, noted for their transparency as well as their resistance to moisture and chemicals, are widely used across numerous sectors, including food packaging for snacks, confectionery, and baked goods, along with labeling and adhesive tape applications. PureCycle emphasized that these attributes significantly contribute to the material’s enduring popularity in the packaging industry.

Looking ahead, Olson reiterated the company’s commitment to innovation and market expansion, stating, “To help expand our portfolio of products, PureCycle is committed to providing a single-pellet solution for BOPP film that can serve as a drop-in replacement for existing virgin film production.”

According to information available on the company’s official website, PureCycle Technologies LLC holds the global license for a proprietary polypropylene recycling technology originally developed by Procter & Gamble (P&G). This cutting-edge purification process effectively removes color, odor, and contaminants from post-consumer polypropylene waste, resulting in the production of PureFive™ resin. Designed to be recycled and reused multiple times, this technology aims to fundamentally transform the lifecycle of plastics, offering a more sustainable solution for the industry.

Source: PureCycle