EPL (formerly known as Essel Propack) has received global recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), in the US for its Platina tube with an HDPE closure.
EPL’s Platina is said to be the first fully sustainable and completely recyclable tube in the world, including shoulder and cap, to get this recognition. It is the only tube to have an integrated shoulder inner barrier liner (IBL) that is also recyclable in the HDPE recycle stream. This is a big step forward as it allows the total tube to be recycled in a single recycling stream.
APR maintains exacting standards for certification. Platina went through a rigorous test and qualification process for more than three months before the results were announced. Platina is an eco-friendly laminated tube produced with less than 5% barrier resin and has earlier received recognition from the APR, US, for consistently meeting or exceeding the most stringent APR HDPE critical guidance criteria.
After use, the Platina tubes and caps can be recycled in the dominant #2 plastic stream used across the globe for recycling milk cans, juice bottles. The use of HDPE in Platina and GML tubes increases the stiffness of the tubes, enabling EPL to reduce polymer content and, in turn, help users to deliver on their sustainability commitments.
The Platina range of HDPE tubes is designed to deliver source reduction and recyclability without the loss of any barrier properties. This allows for sustained product stability and durable shelf life of the packed content. The Platina tube is especially suited for oral, toiletries, and food brands. Platina tubes and caps were also certified as 100% recyclable by RecyClass European certification for ‘Code 2’ (recycling) earlier, making them the only specialty packaging tubes and caps to be recognized as 100% recyclable globally.
Sudhanshu Vats, managing director and chief executive officer EPL, said, “Sustainability is a key area of focus for us, and we constantly endeavor towards achieving it. We are extremely delighted to receive this recognition from APR, and this will motivate us to develop more innovative and sustainable solutions and consciously reduce our carbon footprint. This showcases our strong R&D capabilities, underlining EPL’s global position as one of the world’s leading innovative packaging manufacturers with the highest standards of sustainability, resource efficiency and recycling/reuse (PCR).”
“We will encourage and enable our customers to convert to this packaging format, helping them to meet their sustainability commitments faster,” he added.
Hariharan Nair, vice president, Creativity and Innovation, said, “This is a big achievement for us at EPL. Sustainable solutions are a key focus area for us, and we are striving towards achieving this objective across product lines. A first-in-the-world tag makes us proud and is a testament to our disciplined and creative work ethic. Recycling helps the environment even as it creates new economic opportunities, as recycled products can be made into new goods. Recycling helps still-useful materials prevent clogging up landfills and helps reduce fossil fuel consumption.”
