TotalEnergies Corbion Offers PLA with Recycled Content

TotalEnergies Corbion is offering Luminy rPLA grades, which contain up to 30% post-industrial recycled ((PIR) and post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in line with ISO 22095 standard. The material quantification is based on a mass-balance allocation accessed and validated by third-party certification body SCS Global Services.

In addition, as part of its “Stay in the Cycle” campaign, the company has set up a number of closed-loop systems where for example Luminy PLA cups and bottles are collected, sorted and cleaned and again used as raw material to make virgin quality Luminy PLA, according to senior global marketing director François de Bie.  "Already ahead of impending packaging and packaging waste regulations we are offering 20% and 30% recycle content containing Luminy PLA to interested parties." The third party certified rPLA reportedly has identical properties as virgin Luminy PLA, and comes with food-contact certifications. Companies like Coexpan, Sansu and Esol are already actively offering products made from Luminy PLA containing up to 30% PLA recycle.

Alternatively, a viable end of life option for PLA is composting. Said de Bie, “While compostable tea bags and coffee pods are already widely in use in the Netherlands, we see now an EU wide adoption advancing rapidly. Recently, our collaboration with Danimer Scientific resulted in the launch of home compostable compounds for a range of packaging applications, which are available in the market.”