CleanBlueTech: Solvent-Based Washing Technology that Enables Circular Use of Flexibles

INNOVATION:  

CleanBlueTech is a  solvent-based close-loop washing technology that removes smell, glue, print-ink, and organic residues from any plastic flexible film waste including curbside collected, warehouse, supermarket, and post-consumer streams. It has been shown to use 70% less energy and 100% less water than current washing processes. It enables the circular use of film and has the highest possible impact on CO₂ footprint in plastic use, as most films have a very limited usage time before becoming waste. It works at mild temperatures and does not use environmentally harmful chemicals and is a circular use of washing solvent.

IMPACT:

CleanBlueTech enables high quality re-granulate - clean PE flakes allow production of recycled granulates with physical properties equal to virgin PE. There is a significant reduction of energy and water for recycling process, and recycled material can be reused seven times in the same film application (film-to-film recycling). This enables circular use of flexibles, providing the highest reduction of CO₂ footprint of films.

SCALE:  

CleanBlueTech units can be integrated into existing recycling lines. The output capacity of one CleanBlueTech can be between 1,500 kg/hour and 3,000 kg/hour (3,300 lbs/hour- 6,600 lbs/hour). Solvent-based washing is suitable for water-stressed region, and Blue Plastics is going to set up joint venture partnerships for fast commercial deployment of CleanBlueTech worldwide.  

FEASIBILITY:  

Technical feasibility was validated with the construction of a pilot plant, and the quality of the resulting granulates was validated by partners. Blue Plastics B.V. has established a plan for the next steps towards the scaling up and commercialization of the technology, based on years of experience of its  team members. It has  the support of a strong network of stakeholders that span from plastic converters to waste management and regulatory entities.