Eastar Renew 6763 is based on Eastman’s molecular recycling technologies that provide durability, safety and performance identical to Eastar 6763 copolyester material
Nelipak uses Eastman’s Eastar Renew 6763 to produce rigid thermoformed sterile barrier packaging. (Credit: National Cancer Institute on Unsplash)
Rigid and flexible packaging solutions maker Nelipak has started using Eastman’s Eastar Renew 6763 to produce rigid thermoformed sterile barrier packaging for medical device packaging.
US-based Nelipak is said to be the first healthcare packaging maker to use Eastar Renew 6763 to produce sterile barrier packaging for Class II & III medical device applications.
Eastar Renew 6763, which utilises the company’s advanced molecular recycling processes, is identical to Eastar 6763 copolyester in terms of durability, safety, and performance.
Using Eastar Renew, firms can certify that plastic trash is being kept out of landfills and used instead to create new packaging.
Nelipak said that the current target is to divert waste volume equal to 25% of the weight of all packaging produced with the potential to expand to 50% by the end of 2023.
The certified plastic waste diversion is accomplished by distributing recovered waste plastic to Eastman Renew materials via an ISCC-certified mass balancing procedure.
Nelipak CEO Pat Chambliss said: “The use of Eastar Renew 6763 in medical device packaging is an important step towards circularity for packaging in the healthcare industry.
“We are excited to work with customers on projects where this new medical-grade material can play an important role in achieving their sustainability goals.”
During the packaging process, Nelipak’s ISCC PLUS accredited facilities and other supply chain partners’ ISCC PLUS certifications will help to use Eastar Renew 6763 in sterile barrier packaging products.
A third-party certification programme called ISCC PLUS is widely used to track sustainable feedstocks as they move through the supply chain, the packaging firm added.
Nelipak sustainability global head Nic Hunt said: “Developing sustainable solutions and increasing circularity are priorities for many of our customers.
“An exciting benefit of working with Eastar Renew 6763 is the ease of adoption as a result of its performance characteristics. This can help customers accelerate projects which contribute to achieving sustainability objectives.”