Verstraete IML commits to New Plastics Economy

Verstraete IML was one of the first to commit to the New Plastics Economy initiative launched by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a British NGO, in 2016. The Foundation announced its new Global Commitment, ‘A line in the sand’, at the ‘Our Ocean Conference’ in Bali in October 2018. The objective: eliminating plastic waste and pollution right at the source. Over 250 leading organizations from around the world are committing to these ambitious objectives. 

 

Verstraete IML also committed and will be taking the lead in sustainability efforts. It was a logical decision for the company which has been engaged in in-mold labeling, for which sustainability is the major leitmotif. Koen Verstraete, Managing Director, stated that: "Innovation is in our DNA. To both develop high-tech products for our customers and create environmentally friendly solutions that contribute to a sustainable economy.”

 

Verstraete IML produces over 50 million in-mold labels daily for the plastic packaging industry. As Nico Van de Walle, Product Manager, explained: “Plastic is strong, lightweight, and hygienic. It’s also easy to reuse and recycle. Moreover, the packaging and the IML are made from the same material, which makes it mono-material packaging, meaning it is perfectly recyclable.”

 

 

The New Plastics Economy draws a clear line in the sand - and companies, governments and organizations must create an unambiguous vision on the circular economy. They must also join forces to bring a stop to plastic pollution

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The New Plastics Economy targets three objectives: 1) Eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and move from single-use to reuse packaging models; 2) Innovate to ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025; and 3) Circulate the plastic produced, by significantly increasing the amounts of plastic reused or recycled and made into new packaging or products.

 

Verstraete IML strongly believes in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s – literal and figurative – cross-border approach. That is why the company is actively participating in the Holy Grail pioneer project to create more value in the waste flow. It does this, for example, by applying digital watermarks to the IML and packaging in order to better sort the waste. In addition, Verstraete IML has been making major, long-term efforts to write a truly sustainable story. The spin-off company Plastic Recycling Verstraete (PRV) converts more than 4,500 tons of polypropylene waste into the new basic raw material, rPP pellets, annually. This is a major cut in the energy consumption, while Vestraete IML also takes the environmental impact into account as much as possible when buying raw materials and in its production processes.

 

Verstraete IML also helps develop packaging based on renewable, organic raw materials and is conducting research into the biodegradability of in-mold labels so as to close the loop. It also launches products on the market that increase the chances for reuse, like Peelable IML or Reverse IML. Once the consumer removes the Peelable IML from the packaging, all that is left is a neutral, perfectly reusable storage container. The durability of Reverse IML means that the packaging can be reused multiple times in a closed-loop system. For example, buckets for fresh frying oil can be reused to return the used frying oil.