Testing materials were provided, consisting of 5kg of products made from Tritan. PPM conducted comprehensive R&D activities, encompassing material preparation, processing requirements and safety considerations, along with some additional materials exploration.
During the investigation, it was evident that Tritan necessitates additional preparation post-granulation. Furthermore, the material's strength indicated potential wear and tear on shredding equipment when recycling large volumes. However, with the appropriate preparation, injection-grade Tritan could be effectively recycled into parts (products) through injection or extrusion, maintaining excellent clarity and rigidity.
Regarding safety, it was observed that the material emits a level of fumes during the melting process similar to that of Polypropylene. Nonetheless, this concern was readily mitigated through standard fume extraction procedures.
The exploration of Tritan's compatibility with other plastic types led to experiments with the addition of HDPE. HDPE melts at a lower temperature and thus melted quickly, producing aesthetically appealing results. Despite this intriguing outcome, it was concluded that creating composite materials in bulk should be avoided to ensure future recyclability.
The final report provided comprehensive recommendations, covering potential opportunities, product considerations, equipment/safety aspects, and material utilisation. Based on the results, various material opportunities were identified, leveraging the inherent clarity of the material for producing finished goods. The report's key finding was that despite previous advice suggesting that Eastman Tritan™ Copolyester TX1501HF is not recyclable, PPM determined that with appropriate preparation, safety measures and utilisation of either Injection or Extrusion methods, Tritan can indeed be further recycled.
Eight months later, KeepCup reported that they applied the knowledge gained from PPM in their collaboration with their manufacturer - after conducting many trials using their own tooling, they successfully produced 100% recycled cups with clarity, maintaining the same quality as their existing products. KeepCup further advised that they had recently completed the granulation of 1 tonne of stored material waste collected over 8 years, sourced from manufacturing waste, rejected parts, and returns, which are to be used to produce a limited run of 11,000 reusable cups, launching as part of their new Cold Cup range.
Final steps for KeepCup entail organising lab testing to ensure compliance with global food safety requirements. Given the high quality of the material stream, no issues are expected to arise during this process.
