Re: [GreenYes] Another question

["Michele Raymond" <michele@raymond.com>]

My understanding is that ALL plastics production in US only takes about 3% 
of natural gas production -- I doubt we will run out soon unless we run out 
of all such sources

I am not defending the plastics industry, but I am afraid most people still 
think its the "bad" guy.

The bottom line is that you need to make collection simple for 
consumers.  New plastics need to be phased in to collection -- but in the 
future it will make more sense for sorting to be done by professionals, not 
consumers.

Germany consumers are paying an extra $1 billion to collect ALL PKG, and 
they still end up with brown glop. You can't force it all right now.

Glass use is declining, so your markets will decline. You need to be 
realistic about the trends because you can't stop the plastics conversions.

Lifecycle-wise, plastic will beat most other materials. It's the back end 
that needs the collection and market development work.

I know this is not what you want to hear.

And trust me, nobody is paying me to say any of this!!

I'll be speaking at the NR Congress. Look forward to meeting more of you!!

Good luck!!!


At 08:28 AM 11/28/01 -0500, Wayne Turner wrote:
>My question concerns the upstream implications.  As plastic replaces glass 
>in more applications, how does this  affect our dependence on 
>oil/petroleum?  That is, is there  an overabundance or plastic resin 
>feedstocks from existing petroleum production or will this possibly 
>increase the demand for more oil?  And, which is the more polluting 
>industry: glass or plastic manufacturing?
>
>============================================
>QUESTION:
>
>Does anyone out there know what will be the implications these
>'silicon dioxide coated' PET bottles will have on recycling?  Peter
>Anderson?  Anyone?
>
>Thanks,
>Pat Frankin
>CRI
>=====================================================
>At 02:10 PM 11/27/01 -0800, Gary Liss wrote:
>
> >>Date: Tue, 27 Nov 01 13:52:54 -0800
> >>From: Patty Moore <patty@moorerecycling.com>
> >>
> >>Tetra Pak's Glaskin(TM) Seals FDA Acceptance, Introduces New Class of
> >>Coating Technology
> >>------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>Nov 27, 2001 - PR Newswire
> >>------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>Robust Silicon Dioxide Barrier Stronger, Recyclable, Better Alternative
> >>For PET Containers in the United States
> >>
> >>VERNON HILLS, Ill., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Tetra Pak announced it has
> >>received acceptance(1) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for
> >>Glaskin(TM) packaging barrier coating as a safe food contact substance.
> >>Glaskin's silicon dioxide coating for polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
> >>bottles creates a clear glass-like interior coating, enabling liquid food
> >>manufacturers to package oxygen sensitive beverages in PET containers
> >>without sacrificing product quality. Glaskin is safe for consumers,
> >>maintains the taste and quality of the products, cuts costs and is
> >>environmentally sound.
> >>
> >>Glaskin can be used in packaging to extend the shelf life and maintain
> >>the taste and nutritional value of beverages like beer, carbonated soft
> >>drinks, fruit juices and other oxygen sensitive beverages. Glaskin has
> >>proven its extended capabilities in shelf life tests for more than a year
> >>with brewers and beverage companies in the United States and Europe.
> >>
> >>Thinner than a human hair, Glaskin protects carbonated soft drinks and
> >>beer from going flat and guards fruit juices and beer from the effects of
> >>oxygen. "The quality of a liquid food product is only as good as its
> >>barrier," said Jeff Kellar, vice president, plastics packaging systems,
> >>Tetra Pak. "Glaskin's high-end barrier quality brings it to the top of
> >>PET packaging options to date."
> >>
> >>Glaskin enhances PET packaging by blocking both the ingress of oxygen and
> >>the release of carbon dioxide, protecting the integrity of package
> >>contents. In a 24-week study comparing Glaskin to standard PET bottles,
> >>Tetra Pak found that Glaskin-coated bottles block 17 times more oxygen
> >>than uncoated, PET bottles. Glaskin technology also retains carbon
> >>dioxide 25 times greater than standard PET packages.
> >>
> >>The Glaskin process deposits a thin silicon dioxide layer on the interior
> >>surface of the bottle through a unique plasma enhanced process. The
> >>process achieves a very thin, homogeneous and dense coating compared to
> >>other coating technologies both plasma and chemical. The thin silicon
> >>dioxide coating offers high elasticity, making it damage resistant,
> >>perfect clarity with no haziness and a superior barrier for keeping
> >>oxygen out and carbon dioxide in. Since it is an interior coating,
> >>Glaskin does not suffer from possible conveyer and line packaging damage.
> >>
> >>"We are especially pleased and proud of Glaskin's performance as an
> >>environmentally positive technology," said Jeff Kellar. Tetra Pak
> >>conducted several tests on Glaskin to ensure its recyclability. The tests
> >>were both textile and carpet conversion to fiber as well as
> >>bottle-to-bottle recyclability. The findings that were presented to
> >>Association of Post Consumer Plastics Recyclers (APR) concluded that in
> >>fiber conversion Glaskin does not impart any noticeable change in the
> >>quality of the end product, even when recycled using 100% Glaskin
> >>bottles. This means that when all of the incoming stream of PET bottles
> >>were coated with Glaskin, there was no noticeable effect on the PCR
> >>material.
> >>
> >>When Plastics Technologies, Inc, a leading supplier of proprietary
> >>technology and specialty manufacturing services to the plastic packaging
> >>industry, put PET bottles with Glaskin through bottle-to- bottle tests,
> >>the packages proved to be recyclable at 100% as well as fit seamlessly
> >>into existing PET recycling channels. Tetra Pak was recognized with the
> >>Partners for Change Award from the APR for its work and sensitivity
> >>towards recyclability in new product development.
> >>
> >>The Glaskin crystal-clear coating enables liquid food manufacturers to
> >>differentiate their products with package shape and size and still have a
> >>barrier that creates a new standard in PET packaging. In Europe,
> >>Spendrups and Bitburger Beer were successfully launched in PET bottles
> >>using the Glaskin coating technology.
> >>
> >>"We are excited to bring Glaskin to the United States after the great
> >>success that it has had in Europe. With the growing demand for plastics,
> >>Tetra Pak's Glaskin will quickly be associated as the top barrier for PET
> >>bottles," said Kellar.
> >>
> >>Tetra Pak expects the first US applications of Glaskin late-2002.
> >>
> >>About Tetra Pak
> >>
> >>Established in the United States in 1984, Tetra Pak Inc. develops,
> >>produces and markets complete processing and packaging systems and
> >>provides systems engineering, packaging materials, technical field
> >>services and spare parts support. Best known for its aseptic processing
> >>and packaging systems, Tetra Pak is also one of the top producers of
> >>gable top milk and juice cartons in the United States. For more
> >>information on Tetra Pak, please visit www.tetrapakusa.com/ grow /
> >>
> >>(1) Glaskin complies with the provisions of applicable food additive
> >>regulations, in contact with all types of food under conditions of use
> >>c thru g, as described in Tables 1 and 2, of 21 CFR 176.170(c).
> >http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X52604605
> >Gary Liss
> >916-652-7850
> >Fax: 916-652-0485
>
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Michele Raymond
Publisher
Recycling Laws International/ State Recycling Laws Update
5111 Berwyn Rd. Ste 115 College Park, MD 20740)
301/345-4237   Fax 345-4768
http://www.raymond.com

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