Sustainability and circular economy
Sustainability is at the core of modern industrial practices, integrating environmental responsibility, social well-being, and economic viability. The circular economy is a crucial component of sustainability, aiming to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency through recycling and reusability.
Plastics recycling plays a pivotal role in reducing the ecological footprint of plastic waste. As global regulations tighten and consumer demand for eco-friendly products increases, industries must adopt innovative solutions to ensure plastics remain within the production cycle.
A challenge for plastics recycling: Near-Infrared (NIR) sorting
One of the key challenges in plastics recycling is the effective separation of polymers, which is essential for a successful recycling process and the quality of the recycled material.
Most industrial recycling facilities rely on Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for sorting plastics by polymer type. However, traditional black plastics, which commonly contain Carbon Black pigments, present a major obstacle to efficient recycling. Carbon black absorbs a large portion of the NIR spectrum, preventing the reflection required for optical sorting. This results in black plastic waste being incorrectly sorted or rejected, reducing the overall efficiency of recycling streams.
Recognizing the need for an alternative to carbon black, Plastika Kritis and Global Colors Masterbatches have developed a new range of NIR-detectable black masterbatches that allow for effective sorting and recycling.
• Enhanced recyclability: enable sorting and identification, reducing waste and increasing material recovery rates.
• Regulatory compliance: meet global recycling and food safety standards.
• Suitable for a broad range of applications, including food packaging, automotive, construction and consumer goods.
• KRITILEN® BLACK 92001-1 & KRITILEN® BLACK 92002-1 – Certified by Cotrep, these masterbatches are designed for polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) applications, ensuring full compatibility with current recycling systems.
• KRITILEN® BLACK PET92004 – A next-generation solution for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) applications, currently undergoing certification. PET is one of the most recycled plastics worldwide, making this development crucial for sustainable packaging solutions.
Compared to traditional carbon black-based masterbatches (e.g., KRITILEN® 440Ρ), these innovative formulations demonstrate superior recyclability and sorting accuracy without compromising color richness.
The success of NIR-detectable black masterbatches has opened the door to further innovation in sustainable plastics coloration. Plastika Kritis and Global Colors Masterbatches are actively developing new dark-colored masterbatches tailored to meet the specific requirements of different industries, ensuring both high-quality aesthetics and circular economy compatibility.
As industries worldwide strive to reduce their environmental footprint, Global Colors Masterbatches remain at the forefront of sustainable plastics innovation. By investing in cutting-edge masterbatch technologies, they contribute to a cleaner, more efficient recycling ecosystem while helping businesses meet their sustainability goals.
Contact us to learn more about our masterbatch solutions from our RnD specialists.
