Recycled PET (rPET) in Food Packaging: Safety Assessment and Regulatory Compliance

Recycled PET (rPET) in Food Packaging: Safety and Compliance

Recycled PET offers sustainability benefits while meeting food safety requirements. This article examines rPET processing, safety assessment, and regulatory compliance.

rPET Processing Technology

• Collection & Sorting: NIR sorting, density separation
• Washing: Caustic wash at 85°C, contaminant removal
• Extrusion: Melt filtration (25-40 micron)
• SSP (Solid State Polymerization): IV rebuild to 0.70-0.80 dL/g

FDA No-Objection Letter (NOL) Process

FDA evaluates recycling processes per 21 CFR 177.1630:

• Challenge testing with surrogate contaminants
• Decontamination efficiency ≥99%
• End-use concentration modeling
• Process validation and quality control

EFSA Safety Assessment

European Food Safety Authority requirements:

• Input material control (food-grade only)
• Process efficiency demonstration
• Quality assurance system (ISO 9001)
• Traceability and batch tracking

rPET Specifications

• Intrinsic Viscosity: 0.70-0.80 dL/g
• Color (L*a*b*): b-value ≤3.0 for clear applications
• Acetaldehyde: ≤3 ppm for bottle-grade
• Black Specks: ≤5 per kg (>0.8mm)

Sustainability Metrics

✓ 75% energy savings vs. virgin PET
✓ 50% CO₂ reduction
✓ Diverts plastic from landfills
✓ Supports circular economy goals

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