California Camp Fire Focus of Trade Association Investigation

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) said that its investigation of benzene contamination in the water supply of fire damaged areas such as Paradise, California has determined that the cause is not from pipe made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but was from the burned-out environment. This debris was sucked into the pipes, contaminating the water system regardless of the pipe material. The major North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry conducted the study in response to claims that the melting of HDPE pipe led to the production of benzene, a carcinogen.
“We wanted to ascertain that HDPE or any grade of polyethylene pipe was not the cause of the benzene being found in this specific area,” stated David M. Fink, president of PPI.  “Our staff of professional, licensed engineers have spent many hours talking to and have conducted on-site visits with Paradise Irrigation District officials.  Plus, our staff and members have been in contact with the researchers in California who are employed by PID or the state who have helped to investigate the source of benzene and other chemicals in the drinking water.  PPI also focused on what role, if any, plastic pipes may have played in the overall situation.  There has been no evidence found that plastic pipes of any material are responsible for the production of benzene or any other contaminant due to the heating of pipes during the Camp Fire.”
According to the association, before the 2018 fire, the Paradise Irrigation District had 170  miles of underground water mains, typically buried 36 to 48 inches deep, with seven pressure zones to accommodate various elevations.  The materials used for water mains included steel, cast iron, asbestos cement, and PVC.  The majority of houses and structures in Paradise were built in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.  Water service connections/laterals primarily used steel, polybutylene (PB), copper, PVC, and HDPE.  Plumbing for hot- and cold-water within houses were predominantly copper, with some steel and polybutylene (PB).  Newer materials such as PEX and CPVC were rarely found in the older structures.  Another finding was that backflow prevention devices were installed at commercial connections, but not at most residential connections.  The fire destroyed 18,000 of the 20,000 buildings in the town.
Fink, who holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and B.S. in Chemistry from Gannon University (Erie, PA), continued to say that contamination, including benzene, was found in all types of pipe used for water mains, even those buried deep in the ground and not exposed to the heat of the fire.  Contamination was also found in both metal and plastic service laterals.  “There are many ways that different chemicals can find their way into the environment, especially in a fire where flame temperatures can hit 1,500 F.”
As the Town of Paradise rebuilds and more residents return, PID is replacing lateral water service lines to affected buildings, typically using HDPE PE4710 water service pipe material produced in accordance with AWWA Standard C901 by many PPI member firms.
“The plastic piping materials such as HDPE, PEX, and PE-RT, when produced, sold, and certified for this purpose according to standards by AWWA and other agencies, are proven to provide safe and reliable delivery of clean drinking water,” Fink stated.
 
https://plasticpipe.org

Two Documents Detail Steps for
Polyethylene and PA12 Pipe
The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) announced that it has two new technical reports available that discuss steps for the fusion of polyethylene and PA12 pipe. “TR-49 Generic Electrofusion User Guide for Field Joining of Polyethylene Gas Piping” and “TR-50 Generic Butt Fusion Joining Procedure for Field Joining of Polyamaide-12 (PA12) Pipe are available without charge at the association’s Energy Piping Systems Division website. PPI is the major North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry.
“For more than four decades of heat fusion of polyethene pipe has provided leak-free joints,” stated Randy Knapp, Ph.D., engineering director. “A PPI task group was formed in 2017 to examine the differences and similarities among the varying joining procedures.  It was also a goal to provide a more uniform, or “generic” joining procedure that could be implemented by pipeline operators for regulated gas applications as required by the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49. Our new TR-49 report is a step-by-step guide that encompasses our task group’s findings and also contains guidance based on leading gas utility review and the latest research on surface preparation, cleaning and scraping techniques published by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI). This user guide is the first of its kind to provide generic industry guidance for electrofusion developed in cooperation with leading gas utilities.”

Knapp said the other guide TR-50 focuses on one of the newest gas piping materials. “Polyamide-12 (PA12) piping is now approved for use in regulated gas applications and is well suited for high-pressure gas installations. This new PPI technical report provides a uniform joining procedure that brings a greater consistency to this aspect of gas pipeline installation, will help to facilitate the pipeline operator’s efforts to qualify the procedure, reduce costs, and simplify DOT’s enforcement duties. It also discusses fusion parameters and visual inspection guidelines specific to PA-12.”
www.plasticpipe.org / https://plasticpipe.org/energy/

SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, today announced its collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), a global leader in prestige beauty, global skincare brand Origins Natural Resources Inc. and beauty packaging manufacturer Albéa for the upcoming 2021 market debut of an advanced beauty tube pack for Origins. It will be the first prestige beauty brand to use certified circular polyolefins from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio to launch a tube pack format of its global best-selling Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.
Origins will be using tubes made from certified circular polyolefins manufactured by SABIC as a result of a revolutionary recycling process. The cap of the new packaging will be made from certified circular Polypropylene (PP), while the tube structure is made from certified circular Polyethylene (PE). SABIC’s advanced recycling technology regenerates hard-to-recycle plastics, which would otherwise be destined for incineration or landfill. It breaks them down to produce purified chemical products, which are then used as a feedstock to recreate high-performance plastics akin to a virgin material – in this case, polyethylene and polypropylene. SABIC’s ground-breaking, certified circular polyethylene and polypropylene are part of its TRUCIRCLE portfolio of circular solutions. Through the use of this innovative technology, Origins, ELC, SABIC and Albéa are pushing the pace of development needed across the value chain to drive a circular plastic economy.

“At The Estée Lauder Companies, we approach sustainable design options for our prestige and luxury packaging with a spirit of collaboration. To further our focus on reducing the potential environmental impacts of a package across its lifecycle, we are proud to partner with SABIC and Albéa on Origins’ industry-first sustainable packaging innovation,” states Sushil Iyer, Vice President, Global Packaging, The Estée Lauder Companies. “Exploring the uses of Post-Consumer Recycle – PCR – is an incredible resource to drive our sustainable packaging goals, and we are excited to bring a more advanced recycled PCR solution to market.”
In line with ELC’s sustainable packaging goals, which include increasing the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material in its packaging, the strategic partnership will further Origins’ commitment to convert at least 80% by weight of its packaging to recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled or recoverable by 2023. The masking beauty leader’s long-term goal is to convert all of its current mask tube packs to include recycled plastic by 2023.
A true pioneer in the ‘naturals’ space, Origins’ investment in sustainable packaging solutions truly reflects its core values. For 30 years, the brand has continued to seek out the most powerful ingredients from nature, identify safe alternatives and use breakthrough science to unleash and deliver transformative results – all while continually striving to make decisions that help reduce environmental impact.
“Respect for our planet is ingrained into our brand’s DNA. It guides all that we do and is reflected in our Origins offerings, which is why we’re excited to partner with SABIC and Albéa and provide our consumers with a safe, high-quality and sustainable packaging solution that reduces our impact on the environment,” says Francesca Damato, Origins’ Vice President for Global Marketing and Product Development. “Together, we have an exciting opportunity to define how the prestige beauty industry can create attractive as well as responsible packaging that pleases both consumers and the planet. This is a significant first step in the transition towards a circular economy, helping to close the loop on plastic waste.”
Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, adds: “The new Origins packaging is the result of true collaboration and innovation, and another step forward to closing the loop on used plastics. We are committed to collaborating with partners across the value chain in working towards a more sustainable, circular future.”
“Albéa has been at the forefront of sustainable development in packaging for many years and was the first beauty packaging company to commit to making their solutions 100% circular by 2025. This breakthrough with Origins, The Estée Lauder Companies and SABIC is an industry-first – paving the way for the use of advanced recycled, post-consumer waste into prestige beauty packaging thanks to an innovative source of high-quality resins,” emphasizes Stéphane Barlet, VP of Sales, Albéa Americas. “This co-development also highlights the importance of partnership and audacity across the value chain, which is crucial for accelerating the transition to recyclable and reusable packaging.”
SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE offering spans from design for recyclability services and mechanically recycled materials to certified circular products from chemical recycling of used plastics and certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock. SABIC’s certified polymers are based on a mass balance approach. This widely recognized international sustainability certification scheme verifies that the mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. In addition, it provides traceability along the supply chain, from the feedstock to the final product.
 
www.sabic.com / www.elcompanies.com / www.ORIGINS.com / www.albea-group.com

Millad NX 8000 technology is fully compatible with polypropylene (PP) recycling processes in Europe and poses no recyclability issues, according to RecyClass, a cross-industry initiative that works to advance plastic packaging recyclability on the continent.
RecyClass approval applies to the technology itself, while the packaging using the technology must adhere to certain conditions to be considered fully compatible with the PP recycling stream. These include the maximum content of the technology of 0,4% compared to the overall packaging weight.

Testing was conducted by Plastics Forming Enterprise, in accordance with the APR PP Critical and Application Guidance protocol. Recyclates generated via recycling of packaging containing this clarifying agent can be used in high-quality applications. In this protocol a concentration limit of 50% is tested.
Millad NX 8000, including its variants Millad NX 8000E, for PP blow molding applications, and Millad NX 8000 ECO, a sustainable clarifying agent for PP, is used by more resin producers than any other, making it the number one clarifier for PP in the world.
Millad NX 8000 not only transforms polypropylene into a crystal clear alternative to glass, PET, PVC and PC, but boosts sustainability. Compared to previous generation clarifier technologies, it offers faster production rates and average energy savings of 10% in the production of injection molded clarified polypropylene parts. As a result, converters and brand owners can use the UL Environmental Claim Validation label to highlight the energy consumption reductions achieved with its use in a transparent PP product.
In addition to these market leading benefits, Millad NX 8000 ECO addresses concerns related to migration, especially in food contact applications, by reducing Specific Migration Limits, or SMLs, without adding any new ingredients to the formulation. It also maintains a consistent, fresh appearance in all retail lighting, regardless of the presence of UV light from the light source.
Just last year, Millad NX 8000 clarifier received Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), validating that the additive is compatible with plastic packaging recycling. This latest certification further demonstrates that Millad NX 8000 technology promotes the increased recyclability of packaging. The technology’s compatibility with recycling is another step closer to the establishment of a genuine circular economy for plastic packaging.
chemical.milliken.com / www.milliken.com / www.recyclass.eu

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry today announced that Orkla, a diversified Nordic brand owner in business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce with foods, snacks, food care for sport and food ingredients, has launched its first chips packaging using certified renewable polypropylene (PP) polymer from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio. The sustainable material is derived from tall oil, a residual product from the Nordic forestry industry, and is converted into a Biaxially Oriented PolyPropylene (BOPP) by IRPLAST, a major Italian vertically integrated manufacturer of specialty S-BOPP films and converter of printed shrinkable BOPP roll-fed labels and PSA tapes. In Orkla’s chips bags, the material solution helps lower the carbon footprint of the three partners’ value chain in half compared to the use of traditional non-renewable plastics.
“We want to make it easier for consumers to make environmentally conscious choices,” says Sara Malmström, Sustainability Manager at Orkla Confectionery & Snacks. “Packaging is an important part of all our products, and plastic packaging in particular can have a considerable impact on both the environment and climate. We are proud to be first in the Swedish market to put chips in bags made with plastics based on bio-renewable feedstock on the snack shelf,” she adds.

Orkla had been looking for an innovative and agile converter capable of meeting its sustainability targets and supplying a renewable film that would help them enhance the sustainability profile of their packaging. They identified IRPLAST, with whom SABIC had already been successfully collaborating in various projects for the development of film products in compliance with EU Packaging and Waste Packaging Directives. Next to Natural Oriented PolyPropylene (NOPP) films from certified renewable PP polymer, IRPLAST also offers an S-BOPP (Simultaneously oriented BOPP) film range branded as LOOPP that uses certified circular SABIC® PP material with feedstock from chemically recycled post-consumer plastics to deliver virgin-quality resins. IRPLAST’s NOPP and LOOPP products both have received independent third party International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS).
Naomi Lunadei, Sustainability Manager at IRPLAST, explains: “We firmly believe that sustainable growth must become a priority for businesses producing and converting plastic packaging materials. As a packaging producer, we are well aware of our responsibilities in making the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals a reality, and we are very committed to the challenge. Our two new BOPP lines demonstrate the determined route we have embarked on with SABIC. While our NOPP products help reduce the carbon footprint of flexible packaging, the innovative LOOPP range opens a door for customers to enter the circular plastics economy which is being progressively mandated by legislators worldwide.”
In contrast to comparable BOPP film from traditional fossil fuel, every kilogram of renewable NOPP packaging takes more than 2 kg of CO₂ emissions out of the environment. The first set of new Orkla packages in NOPP flexible film includes 275-gram bags of Grill, Sour Cream & Onion, Dill & Chive and Salted Chips, and prominently displays the 50 percent CO₂ reduction to consumers. Orkla Confectionery & Snacks Sweden has an ambition to gradually introduce similar bags for all their snacks packages.
“We are proud of successfully implementing our certified renewable PP polymer in IRPLAST’s flexible packaging for Orkla,” states Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC. “The ISCC PLUS accredited materials from our TRUCIRCLE portfolio offer drop-in solutions for replacing fossil-based plastics in the packaging industry with no compromise on food safety. With our certified circular and renewable polymers, we are aiming to create a sustainable value chain where we collaborate with downstream customers like IRPLAST and Orkla in the use of animal-free bio-based feedstock or in the reuse of post-consumer recycle, thereby seeking to capture the greatest value from sources that have traditionally been ignored or discarded.”
SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE offering spans from design for recyclability services and mechanically recycled materials to certified circular products from chemical recycling of used plastics and certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock. SABIC’s certified polymers are based on a mass balance approach. This widely recognized international sustainability certification scheme verifies that the mass balance accounting follows predefined and transparent rules. In addition, it provides traceability along the supply chain, from the feedstock to the final product.
www.sabic.com / www.orkla.com

Avoury, the new brand launched by Melitta Single Portions, is working with SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio of solutions and services to create its pioneering new premium organic tea capsules, made from certified circular polypropylene (PP) that uses feedstock made from used plastic. The launch represented an innovative use of recycled, transparent plastic tea capsules in the industry, representing an exciting step towards a more sustainable future with products which are easier to recycle and that help to create a circular economy for plastics.

Avoury was one of the first companies to adopt SABIC’s pioneering TRUCIRCLE solution for certified circular PP – SABIC QRYSTAL copolymer, which creates the capsules from post-consumer recycled material. The capsules are made specifically for the new Avoury One tea machine launched in late 2019, which enables the consumer to make a premium cup of tea with just the click of a button. The transparent tea capsules take the consumer experience one step further, allowing them to not only taste the high quality tea but also see it inside the capsule.

Holger Feldmann, CEO at Melitta Single Portions, said: “We naturally want to ensure an exceptional tea experience and we want to prove that it is possible for resources to be used responsibly. With Avoury tea capsules we can prove both.”

SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio and services is a considerable milestone on the journey towards closing the loop and creating a circular economy for plastics. It showcases SABIC’s circular innovations and can help manufacturers reduce plastic waste by using sustainable materials. The TRUCIRCLE portfolio spans design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified circular products from feedstock recycling of used plastic and certified renewables products from bio-based feedstock.

Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, said: “Avoury tea capsules are a great example of collaboration and innovation between SABIC and Melitta Single Portions to create the world’s first tea capsules made using our TRUCIRCLE circular solutions. At SABIC, we are committed to delivering sustainable solutions for our customers and are closer than ever to closing the loop on used plastic.”

SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE solution for certified circular SABIC QRYSTAL copolymer, used for this new packaging that can be recycled, contributes towards the development of a circular economy. It also helps to create a transparent, aesthetically pleasing, lightweight design which preserves the quality of the tea leaves while supporting to address food safety regulations required for food and beverage products. The packaging is heat resistant to protect the tea leaves, whilst enabling the tea to freely develop its flavors and nuances at the click of a button.
Since the launch in late 2019, SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio has received unprecedented demand from businesses from a wide range of industries looking for solutions that are commercially viable while also more considerate of our environment to work towards a circular, transparent and sustainable economy for plastics.
www.sabic.com

More sustainable and cleaner nickel alloy production

VDM Metals Group, a German manufacturer of nickel alloys and special stainless steels, has adopted Henkel´s next generation nitric acid (HNO) free Bonderite C-CP (“Cleanox”) pickling process for dedicated wire products. The Bonderite C-CP product range answers market requirements within the metals industry to significantly increase the sustainability value of their production processes.
The Cleanox technology has already been in use for decades in multiple industries globally, including wires, tubes, coils, bars, and components. It is suitable for all stainless steel grades, and can be used in multiple applications, including immersion, spray, continuous line, or batch solution processes. VDM Metals, based in Werdohl, is using Henkel’s Cleanox technology to pickle rolled wire of high-alloyed materials in order to ensure the compliance with NO_x limits.
Bjoern Lorenz, Sales Manager Metal Coil at Henkel for Western Europe, says: “Henkel is determined to play a decisive role in environmental protection, aligned with our company strategy, by offering our customers a reliable, flexible and sustainable pickling process for stainless steel in the metal coil industry. Customers such as VDM Metals have been benefiting from competitive production costs, whilst realizing a significant contribution to both ecological improvement and production safety. Together with our chemical and electric pickling, paired with our equipment to automatically control and dose chemicals, we are able to offer a systematic package to customers who are focused on increasing their sustainability.”
High-alloyed nickel chromium alloys are commonly used in multiple industries, including the automotive, petrochemical, aviation, power generation & electrical, chemical and appliances sectors. But there are challenges around common mixed acid pickling systems, due to the use of nitric acid. These cleaning techniques typically result in vast volumes of nitrate ions being discharged, during the intermediate and final rinsing stages. Nitrate and nitrite pollution is subject to legislative regulation and needs to be complied with via waste water treatment.
A further drawback for common mixed acid pickling processes is the need to treat nitrogen oxide (NO_x) fumes, in order to avoid air pollution. It is technically possible to clean nitrogen oxides by different procedures, but it requires investments in equipment, process control and maintenance.
Both factors also determine the productivity of the pickling process, the waste water treatment and waste disposal.
Henkel´s Bonderite C-CP overcomes these environmental and cost hurdles with the latest in its line of nitric acid-free cleaning technologies. The lower amount of sludge created by the new technology, when compared to the traditional process, is a further sustainability advantage. Furthermore, global process costs are equal or lower than traditional processes, when this fully automatic technology is used. The Bonderite C-CP process can be used in spraying or immersion lines. It is suitable for any stainless steel or special grades based on austenite, ferrite, martensite, duplex or superduplex, including high-chromium AISI/SAE 4XX qualities.
Olaf Kazmierski, SVP of Production at VDM Metals in Werdohl, is very positive about both the sustainability potential of the new technology, as well as the collaboration with Henkel. “Our adoption of Bonderite C-CP has allowed us to optimize the pickling process. Henkel´s advices on how to manage the process and optimize the consumption were the base of the flawless change from mixed acids to the Bonderite technology. The problem of nitrate loads has been clearly mitigated. Meanwhile the process works without any problem, the new pickling procedure is well established.”
The latest innovation in the Cleanox range is the deployment of acid recovery acid machines that make the technology even more cost effective and sustainable. This equipment is offered by Henkel to fulfill multiple purposes, but primarily to further reduce any sludge remaining in the production system, as well as for the recycling of used Bonderite C-CP products. Through employing these machines, customers can significantly save costs for product consumption and further reduce their ecological footprint.
Henkel began offering its range of Bonderite C-CP technologies in the 1990s, to address the growing market demand for nitric acid free pickling technologies for stainless steel. Since the initial introduction, legislation governing this space has tightened in the EU, in accordance with the European Community Directive (96/82/EC) (known as “Seveso”), which further restricts the usage and storage of hydrofluoric acid. Henkel’s latest generation of Bonderite C-CP is fully in line with these regulatory requirements. VDM Metals is one of the first manufacturers of high-alloyed non-iron metals to adopt the process in their production.
Aziz Mabrouki, Head of Metal Coil Europe at Henkel, concludes: “Cleanox technology has not only been rolled out across Europe, but all across the world. We are able to offer integrated solutions ranging from chemistry to expertise and equipment to support stainless steel makers and users to be compliant with new directives, such as the Chinese central government’s regulations around nitrite emissions.”
Bonderite is a registered trademark of Henkel and/or its affiliates in Germany and elsewhere.
www.henkel.com