TotalEnergies Corbion begins actively buying reprocessed PLA waste to 'stimulate' collecting, sorting, cleaning of PLA recycle streams; PLA recycling is picking up in Europe via Austria-based NaKu, and in South Korea under Sansu bottled water brands

DUSSELDORF, Germany , October 27, 2022 (press release) –

TotalEnergies Corbion is stepping up its efforts in closing the recycling loop for PLA. To stimulate collecting, sorting, and cleaning of PLA waste and to facilitate a marketplace for PLA recycle streams, TotalEnergies Corbion is actively buying reprocessed PLA waste. The advanced recycling process allows for the PLA to be recycled back into Luminy® rPLA with the exact same properties and certifications as virgin Luminy® PLA.

In Europe, the success of advanced recycling of PLA is exemplified by the NaKu bottled water from Austria. The NaKu bottle is made of 100% biobased plastic (PLA), it is therefore recyclable and compostable (according to EN 13432). The bottles are 100% recyclable and contain 20% certified recycled content. After use the bottles are collected, sorted, cleaned and the resulting PLA is mechanically recycled into different applications. 

In Asia, another strong example of PLA recyclability is Sansu in Korea. Sansu bottles water in Luminy® PLA. After use the bottles are collected, sorted, cleaned and the resulting PLA is advanced recycled into Luminy® rPLA. Luminy® rPLA has the exact same mechanical properties, food contact and other certifications as virgin PLA and the recycle content is SCS certified.

“At various jazz and music festivals in Korea PLA drinking cups are exclusively used. The cups are collected, sorted and send for advanced recycling in our plant in Thailand. This close loop concept is not new and with the advanced recycling that TotalEnergies Corbion has developed, this is now a reality” said ChowPin Tan, Senior Business Development Director Asia Pacific at TotalEnergies Corbion.

Contact pla@totalenergies-corbion.com if you are interested in being part of the PLA recycling journey.

Learn more about PLA recyclability at https://www.totalenergies-corbion.com/about-pla/recyclability/ or visit our stand at K2022 to see and try the bottles. 

NaKu water bottle made of 20% recycled PLA and food contact approved.

Sansu water bottle collection point at music festival.

END PRESS RELEASE

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