Together with TotalEnergies Corbion, Korean water producer Sansu is developing an embossed label water bottle made of Luminy PLA bioplastics to speed adoption of recycled PLA as feedstock. Since 2019, Sansu and TotalEnergies Corbion have been engaging in post-consumer recycling (PCR) of PLA.

Source: WhatTheyThink

This innovation is set to revolutionize recycled PLA production processes, marking a significant leap towards a more sustainable future.

Since 2019, Sansu and TotalEnergies Corbion have been engaging in Post-Consumer-Recycling (PCR) of PLA. Traditionally, recycling PCR PLA has been a cumbersome process involving the removal of labels and caps, followed by crushing, cleaning, and shipping in the used PLA in the form of flakes back to TotalEnergies Corbion’s Thailand plant for de-polymerization into polylactic acid monomers and subsequent re-polymerization into recycled PLA. Recognizing the inefficiencies of this process, Sansu and TotalEnergies Corbion have reached an agreement to produce a 100% PLA bottle with an embossed label, which significantly expedites the processing of PCR PLA bottles – avoiding labels and caps removal processes.

Recent advancements in recycling technology have enabled the seamless transformation of used PLA into new recycled PLA (RPLA) with properties equivalent to virgin Luminy® PLA, including food contact approval.

The partnership between Sansu and TotalEnergies Corbion represents a joint effort to advance the adoption of Luminy® PLA bioplastics and reduce carbon emissions from plastic usage. Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion, emphasizes the importance of such partnerships in driving sustainability initiatives, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.

This partnership is another example of how TotalEnergies engages with partners in the value chain to advance the adoption of Luminy® PLA bioplastics and contribute to lowering carbon emissions from plastic usage. Furthermore, this collaboration is a clear example of design for recycling which can also be applied to PLA. This initiative is in line with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation being finalized in the EU and promoting design for recycling criteria.

Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion

The agreement signed by Ji-Hoon Kim, CEOs of Sansu, and Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.

Thomas Philipon, CEO of TotalEnergies Corbion will be presenting at the 5th Annual Go Circular Summit on the 17th of April 2024 in Cologne.