Novel process could recycle PVDC

SOLVAY has shown that polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) has the potential to be recycled and is now calling for collaboration to realise PVDC recycling at an industrial global scale.

Previously considered unrecyclable, PVDC is used in food, beverage, and healthcare multilayer barrier packaging across the globe.

In proof-of-concept work, the company was able to recycle its Ixan PVDC bioriented film from post-industrial food packaging waste while maintaining the performance of the high barrier polymer. Ixan PVDC has long-lasting water vapour and gas barrier properties that make it effective protection for advanced packaging and medical film technologies.

According to Solvay, a layers mechanical separation step enhances recycling, but it did not disclose further details about the process. It highlights that the separation step of the multilayer structure film was made possible by value chain collaboration.

Having achieved this initial breakthrough, Solvay is urging other companies operating in the plastics industry to collaborate to realise industrial-scale recycling. The company notes a particular need to introduce the infrastructure required to collect and segregate packaging containing PVDC.

Solvay says the proof-of-concept results open the possibilities to test the recyclability of other types of packaging containing PVDC.