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LINPAC France leads the way in recycling PVC waste for reuse

LINPAC, the leading fresh food packaging manufacturer in France, is showing the way towards a circular economy by internally recycling 98% of PVC waste at its Pontivy site.

The remaining 2% of PVC waste is sold on by LINPAC to external customers for use in the manufacture of rigid and flexible products such as pipes, cables, shoe soles and car mats.

In addition, fumes that are created as a by-product of the manufacturing process are captured and condensed for use as plasticizers, which are used as additives to improve the plasticity properties of materials in products, such as garden hoses.

Didier Le Toquin, purchasing manager, France commented: "The ability to reuse waste PVC and fumes generated in our manufacturing processes is of great environmental significance. Materials that may have ended up in landfill, or polluting the atmosphere, can now be used to create new products with a useful service life."

LINPAC recycled 227t of PVC waste in 2016, including 42t of plasticizers that were reused externally. However, the recycling of PVC is not a new concept to the company. Over the last ten years LINPAC has recycled over 3,000 metric tons of PVC waste at its Pontivy site – all of which has been sold on for reuse.

Mr Le Toquin added: "LINPAC is committed to supporting the drive towards a circular economy in all our manufacturing practices. What’s particularly pleasing about this process is the positive impact it has on a wide number of sectors. Contrary to common misconceptions, it’s not a certainty that plastic should be harmful to the environment when it can in fact be infinitely useful."

For more information, please visit linpac.com.