18 Jan 2022 --- Huber Group-backed PrintCYC project has discovered that standard pigments for flexo- and rotogravure printing show “excellent” compatibility with recycling and enable recyclates comparable to virgin film.This finding opens a “wide range” of reuse possibilities in different film and packaging applications, the consortium indicates.Both pigment types (yellow and red) showed optimal recyclability, leading to odor- and defect-free, color-stable polypropylene (PP) recyclates. The colored recyclates’ material properties were analyzed technically and analytically.Early last year, PrintCYC began this project phase, investigating the impact of pigments on the recyclability of printed packaging films. Inorganic pigments are mostly temperature stable and supposed to be recyclable without degradation. However, organic azo-pigments like most standard red and yellow pigments are more temperature-sensitive and might re-split into critical components. The pigments yellow (Pigment Yellow 17) and red (Pigment Red 57:1) selected for the recycling trials are commercially available standard pigments for flexo- and rotogravure printing.
