Open AccessSafety assessment of the process UTSUMI RECYCLE SYSTEMS , based on Starlinger de CON technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
Author(s) -
Lambré Claude,
Barat Baviera José Manuel,
Bolognesi Claudia,
Chesson Andrew,
Cocconcelli Pier Sandro,
Crebelli Riccardo,
Gott David Michael,
Grob Konrad,
Mengelers Marcel,
Mortensen Alicja,
Rivière Gilles,
Steffensen IngerLise,
Tlustos Christina,
Van Loveren Henk,
Vernis Laurence,
Zorn Holger,
Dudler Vincent,
Milana Maria Rosaria,
Papaspyrides Constantine,
Tavares Poças Maria de Fátima,
Lioupis Alexandros,
Lampi Evgenia
Publication year - 2021
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.2021.6869
Subject(s) - food contact materials , human decontamination , process engineering , environmental science , process (computing) , residence time (fluid dynamics) , waste management , materials science , food packaging , pulp and paper industry , computer science , chemistry , food science , engineering , operating system , geotechnical engineering
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids ( CEP ) assessed the safety of the recycling process UTSUMI RECYCLE SYSTEMS ( EU register number RECYC 223), which uses the Starlinger de CON technology. The input material is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) ( PET ) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, e.g. bottles, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are preheated before being submitted to solid‐state polycondensation ( SSP ) in a continuous reactor at high temperature under vacuum and . Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the SSP reactor (step 3) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, pressure, residence time and . It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.