Siegwerk, one of the world's leading providers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, and APK AG, a specialist in the production of high-quality plastic recyclate from packaging waste, successfully completed de-inking trials of twofold printed LDPE-films. The strategic cooperation of the two companies, which started in October 2019, contributes its first ground breaking insights to facilitating the efficient recycling of flexible packaging applications.
‘Design for recycling – ideally enabling product to product recycling – is crucial to closing the loop for flexible packaging. For Siegwerk this means providing innovative printing inks and lacquers, which facilitate high-quality recycling – for example by allowing easy de-inking while keeping full performance during the use phase‘, says Alina Marm, Head of Circular Economy Hub at Siegwerk.
Printing inks play a key role in the manufacture of plastic packaging. They are vital for the appearance and functionality of the packaging. But they also represent a major challenge when it comes to manufacturing a plastic recyclate of sound quality from post-consumer packaging waste. ‘The goal of a quality-driven recycling process is to create a recyclate, which is as transparent as feasible and which can once more be reused in packaging applications. Successful de-inking is essential‘, elaborates Klaus Wohnig, CEO of APK AG.
Read the full press release from Siegwerk here.
