Challenging Tests Provide New Development Boost for domestic Companies Producing Food Contact rPET

In recent years, the food-grade rPET industry has been growing rapidly, and more and more Chinese companies are obtaining FDA NOL to confirm that post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR) produced by their recycling processes can be used in the production of food contact containers under a certain condition of use (COU). Challenge testing has become an effective way and method to help regulators effectively judge recycling channels, recycling processes and especially the ability to remove contaminants, and is also widely used by EFSA, FDA, and others.

From July to August 2021, Incom Resources Recovery Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Incom") received two replies from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Its recycled polyethylene glycol terephthalate (rPET) production system has been officially approved by FDA C- G. Incom "ultra-clean" food grade rPET can cover the use demand of most PET food contact packaging in the current market.

Incom Resources Recovery(Tian Jin) Co., Ltd.

Incom was formerly the only food-grade recycled polyester chip production line (hereinafter referred to as "Incom Factory") built in Beijing in 2005 and the largest single-line production capacity in Asia.The completion of this production line filled the gap in the field of high-value recycling of PET in China at that time.In 2010, Li Keqiang, who was then vice premier of the state council,He inspected the Incom factory and held a circular economy symposium, fully affirming the Incom food-grade recycling recycling model.

In 2010, the National Packaging Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Jinan) conducted a challenging test on food-grade recycled PET in Incom factory. The Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China replied to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (Health Office Supervision Letter [2010] No. 434 "Reply of the General Office of the Ministry of Health on Incom Recycled Bottle-grade Polyester Slice Products Used in the Production of Food Packaging Materials"), indicating that: Under the condition of ensuring the operation of the production line and product quality, Incom factory recycled bottle-grade polyester slice products can be used in the production of food packaging materials. In July of the same year, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine issued the "Notice on Issues Concerning the Production of Food Packaging for Recycled Bottle-grade Polyester Slices" (Quality Inspection Office Food Supervision Letter [2010] No. 695), agreeing that Incom recycled rPET pellets could be used in the production of food-grade packaging materials, and notifying local quality supervision departments to comply with them.

INCOM "ultra-clean" food-grade recycled polyethylene glycol terephthalate pellets (rPET)

In 2017, the Incom factory actively responded to the national Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development strategy and officially launched the relocation to Tianjin Baodi Economic Development Zone. Incom undertook the mission to complete the production line reconstruction in 2020. In order to ensure the consistency of product process quality before and after relocation, Incom applied for ISO9000, ISO14000, FDA, GRS and other certifications. In December of the same year, the National Packaging Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Jinan) once again conducted a challenging test on Incom food-grade recycled PET. The acceptance results of the expert group show that the production process of Incom factory can ensure the quality of recycled bottle grade polyester chips and can fully remove various impurities that may be polluted. Recycled PET resin pellets and finished bottles meet the corresponding national food safety standards. Regenerated PET resin slices can be used for food packaging under the standard application range and conditions. So far, the safety of Incom rPET applied to food packaging has been upgraded again, and Incom has become the only professional enterprise in China to test on the production line and successfully pass the challenging test.

Incom Factory Interior

Based on the equipment of world-renowned professional companies such as BUHLER, SOREMA and PELLENC, Incom builds the world's leading food-grade process scheme. At the same time, it relies on the business advantages of parent company INCOM Recycling in the field of resource recovery to assist the whole traceable supply chain information platform. INCOM rPET food-grade to food-grade full-cycle industrial chain continues to upgrade, providing cleaner and safer food-grade recycled materials for global partners, and fulfilling the sustainable commitment and goal of packaging recycling.

As one of the world's largest producers and consumers of plastic packaging, my country has always had strict requirements for food safety and food-grade contact material control. It is worth noting that in recent years, rPET has been widely accepted and promoted in the United States, the European Union and other markets for food contact materials. Focusing on the comprehensive consideration of developing circular economy and effectively improving the efficiency of resource utilization, more and more countries have begun to revise policies and regulations related to rPET. The application of rPET in the field of food contact materials in China will also usher in a new window. The innovative application of recycled plastics in the field of food packaging will effectively promote the process of waste plastic treatment and environmental protection, and contribute to the development of circular economy and the early achievement of the double "carbon" goal.