HydroGraph Clean Power, a certified graphene manufacturer, has announced a 'breakthrough' in plastic packaging technology that could have a transformative impact on the industry.
The company's fractal graphene powder (FGA-1) has been demonstrated to enhance the performance and sustainability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles significantly.
Tests conducted at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre have shown that the inclusion of just 0.006wt-% of FGA-1 in PET bottles can lead to a potential 20% weight reduction and a 23% increase in top-load compressive strength.
This innovation also results in an 83% decrease in water vapour transmission rate, indicating a substantial improvement in bottle performance.
The PET bottle industry, which produces over 500 billion bottles per year, equivalent to 25 million tonnes of PET, is currently under intense regulatory pressure to reduce the use of virgin plastic, according to the company
HydroGraph's technology is expected to help manufacturers meet these challenges by enabling the creation of stronger, lighter bottles with higher recycled content.
HydroGraph interim CEO and president Kjirstin Breure said: “As manufacturers struggle with the challenge of increasing recycled content while managing costs and maintaining performance, our technology offers a solution that addresses these needs simultaneously.
“By enabling significant material reduction while improving performance with recycled content, we’re helping the industry meet environmental mandates without compromising product competitiveness.”
Legislation such as the EU Directive 2019/904, the UK Plastic Packaging Tax, and various US state mandates are pushing for increased recycled content in plastic packaging.
This is in response to the growing environmental concerns and the higher costs associated with recycled PET (rPET), which can be 20-30% more expensive than virgin PET.
HydroGraph's FGA-1 technology, if adopted globally, could lead to a reduction of five million tonnes of plastic usage annually, based on current PET bottle production.
This represents a 20% cut from current consumption levels. Furthermore, if this technology is fully commercialised and used with a 50:50 PET:rPET blend, the associated carbon dioxide emissions reduction could exceed eight million tonnes.
HydroGraph is also optimistic about the future of nanomaterial technology in addressing environmental challenges within the packaging sector.
In February this year, HydroGraph Clean Power announced positive test results showing that its proprietary graphene can enhance PET performance.
