European Chemical Industry News & Insights

PureCycle and Brückner Complete BOPP Film Trials

Key highlights
  • 16,000 meters of BOPP film produced in two days.
  • Trials used PureFive™ resin with 50% post-consumer recycled content.
  • Film samples are being shared with potential customers.
  • BOPP film applications include food packaging and labeling.

Trial Overview

PureCycle Technologies completed larger-scale trials of PureFive™ resin in biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film. Conducted in August by Brückner Maschinenbau, 16,000 meters of nearly 1-meter-wide BOPP film were produced over two days.

Resin Performance

The PureFive™ resin, containing 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, performed comparably to virgin polypropylene on Brückner’s film line, which operates at 40 meters per minute.

Film Production

Two types of film were produced: a 25-micron multi-layer film, with PureFive™ resin making up three of the five layers, and a thicker 50-micron film for label production. These films are now being shared with potential customers.

Applications

BOPP film is widely used in food packaging for snacks, candy, and baked goods, as well as for labeling and adhesive tape, due to its transparency and resistance to moisture and chemicals.

Industry Impact

Dr. Markus Koppers from Brückner highlighted the trials as a significant advancement, demonstrating that dissolution recycling can transform post-consumer waste into a recyclate with properties similar to virgin polypropylene.