Trinseo and Fernholz have developed a new grade of post-consumer recycled polystyrene. Credit: Pat Hayes via flickr.

Plastics and synthetic rubber manufacturer Trinseo and German packaging manufacturer Fernholz have created a new grade of post-consumer recycled polystyrene (r-PS).

The new material is based on 20%-30% post-consumer recycled content (PCR).

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According to the companies, a number of dairy companies in Europe are trialling the new material grade. A few of them have also already launched new products using r-PS.

Trinseo can supply thousands of tonnes of the material to the dairy industry and related sectors.

Trinseo plastic and feedstocks vice-president Nicolas Joly said: “With r-PS technology, we have developed a process that will help the plastics industry conserve resources and reduce oil consumption.

“We are very pleased to work with Fernholz as our collaboration partner to jointly respond to consumer and market expectations, offering companies a tangible solution for more sustainable packaging.”

The r-PS can easily be processed on classic Form Fill Seal (FFS) machines and does not require any expensive system upgrades.

It can be applied for food packaging in compliance with food safety requirements.

Fernholz managing director Uwe Fernholz said: “The feedback we have received from customers so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The market has been waiting for a solution like this for a long time. As a result of the positive feedback, we are very confident that this breakthrough in recycled packaging made from polystyrene will help the value chain to meet its sustainability goals.”

In February, Trinseo partnered with packaging industry sheet extrusion service provider CEDAP to use recycled polystyrene (PS) in food packaging.