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On‐going solutions to environmental issues in plastic packaging
Author(s) -
Katsura Tadahiko,
Sasaki Haruo
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
packaging technology and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1099-1522
pISSN - 0894-3214
DOI - 10.1002/pts.535
Subject(s) - polyvinyl chloride , polypropylene , polyvinyl alcohol , materials science , blow molding , vinyl chloride , waste management , ethylene , bottle , composite material , polymer , polymer science , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , mold , catalysis , copolymer
Recently, the consumption of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) resins as packaging materials has been declining in the face of various environmental problems they pose. To replace PVC containers, the use of PET bottles and A‐PET containers is on the increase, but PVDC resins are still in wide use as gas‐barrier materials. For gas‐barrier purposes, however, ethylene vinyl alcohol co‐polymer (EVOH) films, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)‐coated polypropylene films, and MX nylon or silica‐ or alumina‐coated PET films are becoming mainstream. The weight reduction of plastic bottles is considered to play an important role in tackling the waste disposal problem. Recently, a new type of stretch‐blow moulding system has been developed, which is effective in reducing the weight of PET bottles. This system is called COSMOS (complete stretch‐blow moulding system) or the two‐blow system. COSMOS PET bottles are now used to hold carbonated drinks containing fruit juice or lactic acid. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.