For some years, the destination of one of the most consumed plastics in the world (PET) is no longer a trash can. Now, there is the possibility to give it an opportunity to start a new cycle of consumption for countless times. This is what we do as Origin and at the Enkador manufacturing plant.
One of the most important characteristics of PET plastic is that it is 100% recyclable, and is not only capable of giving rise to materials such as textile fibers, but also a fully functional bottle for the food industry and for the consumer. This process is a great contribution so that circular economy continues to grow in our country, and that presence of unused waste is significantly reduced in the environment.
How is this process? We’ll tell you then:
1. Collection of raw material
Our main input is PET plastic, which is consumed daily in beverage bottles and plastic containers. We obtain it thanks to the work of our network of grassroots recyclers, who efficiently manage waste in each of their areas, to ensure that the raw material is in optimum condition to be transformed at the plant. Our goal as Origin is also to educate the community to facilitate the collection of waste that can be recycled, and, therefore, contribute to the work that grassroots recyclers do in a daily basis. In this sense, it is essential to recognize which are the PET bottles (identified with the number 1 at its base) and to separate them correctly.
2. Bottle crushing and purification
Once the collected bottles arrive at Enkador, the crushing or grinding process begins to turn the PET into flakes that are subsequently washed and purified. The plant operates with sophisticated, state-of-the-art equipment that guarantees the highest quality, safety, and purity of the new bottle once it reaches the consumer.
3. Obtaining resin and the preform of the new bottle
The washed and purified flakes enter the resin conversion process, a transparent and pasty substance that is very common for the manufacture of plastics. At Enkador, the flakes are transformed into food-grade rPET resins, that is, suitable for the new bottles to house food and beverages. Later, the resin goes to the last transformation process: the preform, which is the initial shape that the new bottle will have.
4. Distribution of the new bottles
The bottles produced in Enkador are capable of reviving over and over again through recycling, thanks to the application of ecodesign, which is based on the production of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. Our bottles are used by renowned brands such as Pony Malta, San Felipe and Splendor. Our commitment is reflected in this process, in which we produce more than 500,000 recycled bottles daily, supported by the work of more than 5,600 recyclers, and which has resulted in 992,450,115 bottles recovered from mountains, oceans, and rivers, so far.
There are around 7 different categories of plastic in the world, however, there is a type of plastic whose characteristics are ideal for promoting recycling, the circular economy and the reduction of unused waste in nature: rPET. Have you heard of this plastic? We show you what it is about below.
rPET is the result of the recycling process of PET plastic once its consumption period has concluded, that is, rPET is completely recycled, recyclable and sustainable plastic. PET plastic (its predecessor) is made of polyethylene terephthalate, a material that is extremely easy to process and that allows new bottles to be made from it, something that cannot be done with other materials such as polypropylene. In addition, PET plastic differs from other plastics because it is highly resistant, unbreakable, lightweight, and capable of storing food due to its excellent barrier to oxygen and water vapor.
The great advantage is that, once it is converted into rPET, these characteristics are maintained, making it possible to make the most of recycled plastic in the food industry, significantly favoring the reduction of waste and reducing the need to manufacture new bottles from virgin materials.
The good news is that we can easily find this type of plastic in our daily lives, either in bottles with drinks or in food containers. You only have to look at the base of your bottle or container: if it has the number 1 and is enclosed in a triangle, it means that it is PET plastic and can be recycled. Once you have identified it, separate it from the rest of the waste so that it can be collected by recyclers and used by factories to give it a new life.
PET has become the most recycled plastic in the world. Almost all plastics can be recycled, however, few can be transformed hundreds of times, as rPET can. According to a study by the Center for Innovation and Development for the Circular Economy (Cidec), rPET is considered the best solution to guarantee the circularity of packaging, and indicated that its manufacture generates less greenhouse gases, less consumption of fossil fuels and requires 88% less energy than making plastic from new raw materials. This is why PET and rPET represent a very valuable opportunity to continue promoting the circular economy and caring for the environment. The impact of recycled plastic is twofold: fulfilling the function of a normal bottle or container, and being a key tool to, in the long term, reduce the presence of new plastics that will end up in the oceans and pollute our homes.
At Origin we are committed to this cause, and we do it by detecting and collecting plastics and transforming them into a new bottle. Join the movement and start recycling your PET bottles! Let’s give new life to plastic!