The Japanese giant had developed the ‘FtoP Direct Recycle Technology’ as part of a joint effort with Oyama-based Kyoei Industry Co, SIPA SpA of Italy and EREMA Group GmbH of Austria.
Preforms using this technology will be manufactured at Kyoei Industry Co and gradually introduced for part of Suntory Beverage & Food Limited's PET bottled products from the summer.
The new technology takes “flake”, which is created by pulverizing and washing recovered PET bottles, and treats it at high temperature and low pressure.
After being melted and filtered, the preform can then be manufactured directly.
The firm said in statement: “In order to form preforms of uniform quality, it is important to pour the melted flake into the moulding machine at a constant pressure, and the development of this technology involved putting up facilities and verification over a protracted period of time."
Track record
“In comparison to the previous setup, which required a large number of processes leading up to the manufacture of the preform, such as crystallization and drying, it is estimated that reductions in CO2 emissions of approximately 25% will be possible.”
Suntory added it had a strong track record in working with Kyoei Industry Co to reduce the environmental impact of PET bottle manufacturing.
“In 2011, we developed Japan’s first bottle-to-bottle mechanical recycling system,” added the company.
“On this occasion, with the aim of achieving further reductions in the environmental burden, the two companies entered into a successful joint initiative with two overseas equipment manufacturers (SIPA SpA of Italy and EREMA Group GmbH) to develop the FtoP Direct Recycle Technology.”