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Papers by Constantine Papaspyrides

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang), based on the Vacunite (EREMA Basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐LeaN) technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Roboplast, based on the Bandera PURe 15 technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Green PET Recycling, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Royce Universal, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Creative Recycling World Company, based on the Vacurema Prime technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Akmert İplik, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Basatli Boru Profil, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Steinbeis PolyVert, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process rPET Aviv Shalam, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process rPET Aviv Shalam (EU register number RECYC263), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air/PET ratio and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step, as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Verdeco Recycling, based on PET direct iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Verdeco Recycling (EU register number RECYC241), which uses the Starlinger PET direct iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded to pellets, which are then crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the three steps, extrusion, crystallisation and SSP, are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, gas flow, pressure and residence time. The challenge test demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 lg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Brunetti Packaging, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Brunetti Packaging (EU register number RECYC257), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air flow and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step, as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Extremadura TorrePet, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Greiner Packaging, based on Starlinger deCON technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Greiner Packaging (EU register number RECYC243), which uses the Starlinger deCON technology. The input material is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, e.g. bottles, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a ■■■■■ reactor at high temperature under vacuum and ■■■■■ Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the SSP reactor (step 3) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, pressure, residence time and ■■■■■ It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process EREMA, based on EREMA MPR + DS technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the processes EREMA based on EREMA MPR and EREMA Basic technologies used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process NAN YA PLASTICS, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process NAN YA PLASTICS (EU register number RECYC238), which uses the EREMA Basic technology. The input material is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor (step 2, for which a challenge test was provided) is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of this step are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants when such recycled PET is used at up to 100%. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Starlinger recoSTAR HDPE FC 1 – PET2PET used to recycle post‐consumer HDPE closures into food contact closures

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Srichakra Polyplast, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

We compare modeled oceanic carbon uptake in response to pulse CO 2 emissions using a suite of glo... more We compare modeled oceanic carbon uptake in response to pulse CO 2 emissions using a suite of global ocean models and Earth system models. In response to a CO 2 pulse emission of 590 Pg C (corresponding to an instantaneous doubling of atmospheric CO 2 from 278 to 556 ppm), the fraction of CO 2 emitted that is absorbed by the ocean is: 37±8%, 56±10%, and 81±4% (model mean ±2σ) in year 30, 100, and 1000 after the emission pulse, respectively. Modeled oceanic uptake of pulse CO 2 on timescales from decades to about a century is strongly correlated with simulated presentday uptake of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and CO 2 across all models, while the amount of pulse CO 2 absorbed by the ocean from a century to a millennium is strongly correlated with modeled radiocarbon in the deep Southern and Pacific Ocean. However, restricting the analysis to models that are capable of reproducing observations within uncertainty, the correlation is generally much weaker.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Green Loop System, used to recycle polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol‐modified (PCTG) plates for use as food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Green Loop System (EU register number RECYC174), a closed and controlled product loop. The input consists of washed plates of polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PCTG) having been used in, e.g. canteens. The plates are ground, converted to new plates, returned to the users of the loop and used as before recycling. The management system to ensure a closed loop is critical, i.e. compliance of the origin of the input with Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 and full traceability from input to final product should be ensured. The Panel concluded that the input of the process Green Loop System originates from product loops that are in a closed and controlled chain, designed to ensure that only materials and articles that have been intended for food contact are used and that contamination other than by food can be ruled out. The recycling process Green Loop System is, therefore, able to recycle PCTG plates intended for repeated use, for contact with aqueous, acidic and fatty food, at low and high temperatures.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Biffa Waste Services, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Biffa Waste Services (EU register number RECYC225), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from nonfood consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air flow and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 lg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang), based on the Vacunite (EREMA Basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐LeaN) technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Roboplast, based on the Bandera PURe 15 technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Green PET Recycling, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Royce Universal, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Creative Recycling World Company, based on the Vacurema Prime technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Akmert İplik, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Basatli Boru Profil, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Steinbeis PolyVert, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process rPET Aviv Shalam, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process rPET Aviv Shalam (EU register number RECYC263), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air/PET ratio and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step, as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Verdeco Recycling, based on PET direct iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Verdeco Recycling (EU register number RECYC241), which uses the Starlinger PET direct iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded to pellets, which are then crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the three steps, extrusion, crystallisation and SSP, are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, gas flow, pressure and residence time. The challenge test demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 lg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Brunetti Packaging, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Brunetti Packaging (EU register number RECYC257), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air flow and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step, as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Extremadura TorrePet, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Greiner Packaging, based on Starlinger deCON technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Greiner Packaging (EU register number RECYC243), which uses the Starlinger deCON technology. The input material is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, e.g. bottles, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a ■■■■■ reactor at high temperature under vacuum and ■■■■■ Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the SSP reactor (step 3) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, pressure, residence time and ■■■■■ It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process EREMA, based on EREMA MPR + DS technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the processes EREMA based on EREMA MPR and EREMA Basic technologies used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process NAN YA PLASTICS, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process NAN YA PLASTICS (EU register number RECYC238), which uses the EREMA Basic technology. The input material is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a continuous reactor under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor (step 2, for which a challenge test was provided) is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of this step are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants when such recycled PET is used at up to 100%. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Starlinger recoSTAR HDPE FC 1 – PET2PET used to recycle post‐consumer HDPE closures into food contact closures

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Srichakra Polyplast, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

We compare modeled oceanic carbon uptake in response to pulse CO 2 emissions using a suite of glo... more We compare modeled oceanic carbon uptake in response to pulse CO 2 emissions using a suite of global ocean models and Earth system models. In response to a CO 2 pulse emission of 590 Pg C (corresponding to an instantaneous doubling of atmospheric CO 2 from 278 to 556 ppm), the fraction of CO 2 emitted that is absorbed by the ocean is: 37±8%, 56±10%, and 81±4% (model mean ±2σ) in year 30, 100, and 1000 after the emission pulse, respectively. Modeled oceanic uptake of pulse CO 2 on timescales from decades to about a century is strongly correlated with simulated presentday uptake of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and CO 2 across all models, while the amount of pulse CO 2 absorbed by the ocean from a century to a millennium is strongly correlated with modeled radiocarbon in the deep Southern and Pacific Ocean. However, restricting the analysis to models that are capable of reproducing observations within uncertainty, the correlation is generally much weaker.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Green Loop System, used to recycle polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol‐modified (PCTG) plates for use as food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Green Loop System (EU register number RECYC174), a closed and controlled product loop. The input consists of washed plates of polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PCTG) having been used in, e.g. canteens. The plates are ground, converted to new plates, returned to the users of the loop and used as before recycling. The management system to ensure a closed loop is critical, i.e. compliance of the origin of the input with Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 and full traceability from input to final product should be ensured. The Panel concluded that the input of the process Green Loop System originates from product loops that are in a closed and controlled chain, designed to ensure that only materials and articles that have been intended for food contact are used and that contamination other than by food can be ruled out. The recycling process Green Loop System is, therefore, able to recycle PCTG plates intended for repeated use, for contact with aqueous, acidic and fatty food, at low and high temperatures.

Research paper thumbnail of Safety assessment of the process Biffa Waste Services, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

EFSA Journal, 2022

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety o... more The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Biffa Waste Services (EU register number RECYC225), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from nonfood consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air flow and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 lg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.