Open AccessSafety assessment of the process ‘Gneuss 1’, based on Gneuss technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
Author(s) -
Silano Vittorio,
Bolognesi Claudia,
Castle Laurence,
Chipman Kevin,
Cravedi JeanPierre,
Engel KarlHeinz,
Fowler Paul,
Franz Roland,
Grob Konrad,
Gürtler Rainer,
Husøy Trine,
Kärenlampi Sirpa,
Mennes Wim,
Pfaff Karla,
Riviere Gilles,
Srinivasan Jannavi,
Tavares Poças Maria de Fátima,
Tlustos Christina,
Wölfle Detlef,
Zorn Holger,
Dudler Vincent,
Gontard Nathalie,
Lampi Eugenia,
Nerin Cristina,
Papaspyrides Constantine,
Lioupis Alexandros,
Milana Maria Rosaria
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5324
Subject(s) - food contact materials , human decontamination , process engineering , food packaging , pellets , residence time (fluid dynamics) , environmental science , process (computing) , materials science , waste management , pulp and paper industry , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , composite material , geotechnical engineering , operating system
This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process Gneuss 1 ( EU register No RECYC 0143). The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) ( PET ) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% of PET from non‐food applications. They are extruded under vacuum into pellets or sheets. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the decontamination in the extruder under vacuum degassing is the critical step for the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control its performance are well defined and are temperature, pressure, residence time, throughput rate, rotor speed and satellite screws speed. The operating parameters of this step are at least as severe as those obtained from the challenge test. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the recycled PET obtained from the process Gneuss 1 intended for the manufacture of articles made with up to 100% recycled post‐consumer PET and intended for contact for long‐term storage at room temperature with all types of foodstuffs is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens.