Mauser gets UN approval

INFINITY AND BEYOND

RECYCLED PLASTICS • AFTER LOBBYING THE UN EXPERTS IN CONCERT WITH ITS INDUSTRY PARTNERS, MAUSER HAS OPENED THE WAY TO USING RECYCLED MATERIAL IN ITS COMPOSITE IBCS

MAUSER PACKAGING SOLUTIONS has received UN certification for its Infinity Series intermediate bulk container (IBC), a composite IBC with an inner receptacle made from high quality, natural coloured postconsumer resin (PCR), which is generated in-house under the Recolene® brand. Through close collaboration with authorities, the International Confederation of Plastics Packaging Manufacturers (ICPP) and the International Confederation of Container Reconditioners (ICCR), Mauser Packaging Solutions helped successfully lobby the UN Sub-committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods to update the UN Model Regulations to allow the use of PCR materials to produce the bottle of composite IBCs.

“We strive to be a positive example to our industry and are determined to increase awareness and adoption of sustainable products and services,” says Mark Burgess, president of Mauser Packaging Solutions. “This certification is a significant step forward toward the expanded use of recycled materials in the industrial packaging industry. Thank you to all of our industry partners who collaborated with us to make this happen.”

Mauser paved the way for the use of PCR in the industrial packaging industry with the introduction of one of the first UN-certified, monolayer, plastic drums made from 100 per cent recycled resin some seven years ago. Today, the company continues to expand its line of monolayer and multilayer drums and IBCs that support the circular economy and conserve natural resources.

The availability of the Infinity Series product line and other types of reconditioned packaging is dependent on the return of used, empty industrial packaging. Diverting packaging from the waste stream is the first step in responsibly extending the life cycle of packaging. With more than 80 reconditioning and recycling facilities around the world, Mauser Packaging Solutions offers the largest global collection and return network.

CLOSE THE LOOP Designed with sustainability in mind, the Infinity Series IBC was the first non-UN composite IBC with an inner receptacle made from PCR materials when it was introduced to the market a few years ago. It demonstrates the advantages of Mauser’s closed-loop recycling system and the benefits of cascading reuse and recycling concepts to an industrial packaging product.

The UN-rated Infinity Series IBC features a two-layer bottle that contains a significant share of recycled resin, which is generated from selected empty industrial packaging that has been collected via the Mauser Packaging Solutions collection programme before being shredded, washed, sorted by colour and extruded on-site at one of the company’s six recycling centres.

This technology and closed loop process enables optimal recycling of PCR material resulting in a consistent, high quality PCR stream available in multiple colours including natural, blue and black. The Infinity Series IBC bottle boasts a 25 per cent lower carbon footprint compared to a new bottle and supports the company’s efforts to divert waste from landfills, decrease the consumption of raw materials and energy, and reduce emissions.

The Infinity IBC offers the same benefits of reusability and recyclability as a standard composite IBC and is ideal for use in the chemicals, paints and coatings, building products, petrochemical and lubricant industries.

Thus far, the UN-certified Infinity IBC is available only in Central Europe. Mauser says it is continuing to work toward approval and availability across its global network.

The Infinity Series IBC is part of a broader product line that includes mono-and multilayer plastic drums (open head and L-ring), medical waste containers, plastic pails, tighthead containers, and lube oil cans made from recycled resin, presenting the most comprehensive portfolios of industrial packaging made from PCR materials. www.mauserpackaging.com