November 3, 2023 Bostik is 50th Participant to Join NEXTLOOPP

NEXTLOOPP is delighted to announce its 50th participant – one of the leading players in the global adhesive scene, Bostik.

LONDON, England – 

NEXTLOOPP, the award-winning project launched by Nextek Ltd in October 2020,  is delighted to announce its 50th participant – one of the leading players in the global adhesive scene, Bostik, the adhesive solutions of Arkema.

The multi-participant project continues to break new ground in its mission to create food-grade and *INRT-grade recycled Polypropylene (rPP) from post-consumer packaging waste.

The project entails separating food-grade PP from the rest using cutting-edge marker technology, PolyPPRISMTM  to identify and sort any number of pack variants from butter tubs and yoghurt pots to coffee pouches and detergent bottles in any plastic type.

NEXTLOOPP then decontaminates the polymer to ensure compliance with food-grade standards in the UK, EU and the USA, using patented PPristineTM technology and turns it back into food-grade recyclates ready to be included in new food-grade PP packaging.

NEXTLOOPP’s 50 participants have been selected to represent the entire PP supply chain. Brand-owners, suppliers, universities, industry associations and PP end-users are joined in the common goal to close the loop on one of the most converted polymers among all plastic waste. In 2018 PP’s market share was about 20 percent, yet PP is the least recycled polymer (3 to 5 percent) due to its use in non-bottle packaging, for example pots, tubs, and trays.

Professor Edward Kosior, founder and CEO of Nextek Ltd and NEXTLOOPP says: “Bostik’s commitment to help build a more sustainable world, in this instance by improving recycling stream effectiveness, resonates with NEXTLOOPP’s objective to ensure every aspect of packaging design is as sustainable as possible. Adhesives play a fundamental role in recycling, as glue residues can’t be filtered out and must be completely removed from the pack. Bostik offers hi-tech solutions to avoid glues leaching into recycled plastics, and we are delighted to welcome Bostik’s extensive expertise in adhesives to solve these challenges.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to participate in NEXTLOOPP and support its overall objective to demonstrate circular recycling for PP food trays,” said Eric Parois, Bostik’s Global Market Director for Label and Narrow Web Technologies. “In particular, because it is focused on PP, NEXTLOOPP complements what we are working on for PET and HDPE circular recycling, providing us with a new avenue to explore how Bostik laminating adhesives, seal and reseal PP tray lidding adhesives and PP tray wash-off label adhesives can bring forward 100% recyclable solutions as we work together to decrease virgin plastic consumption.”

The multi-participant project continues trialing and advancing its cleaning, sorting and decontamination technologies in a lead-up to implementation at commercial scale. COPY ENDS

*INRT Grade PP – This innovative high-quality polymer has been developed specifically for packaging that requires no odour and no migration challenges.

About Nextek Ltd
Nextek is a global sustainability and technology consultancy that offers strategic advice to regional and multi-national organisations and recycling companies. Launched in 2004, Nextek researches and develops innovative strategies and processes within the recycling ecosystem – from designing recycling plants to developing ground-breaking projects for governments and major organisations. Nextek launched NEXTLOOPP, a multi- participant project, to close the loop on food-grade rPP. This project incorporates unique technological breakthroughs that include innovative sorting and cutting-edge decontamination technology. www.nextek.org www.nextloopp.com

About Bostik
Bostik, the adhesive solutions division of Arkema, is a global player in specialty adhesives for the construction, consumer, and industrial markets which develops innovative and multifunctional sealing and bonding solutions that have been shaping our daily lives for over 130 years. With annual sales of 2.9 billion euros in 2022, a presence in more than 40 countries, and 7,000 employees, Bostik is committed to meeting the major ecological, energy and technological challenges through its innovations. It is focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence to meet the expectations of its customers and partners. www.bostik.com

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