Recycling Composite Food Packaging: Recovering and Valorization of Individual Components

Abstract

Paper composite packaging, increasingly used in various sectors including food, offers benefits like enhanced product preservation. However, its recycling poses challenges due to the difficulty in separating its components, leading to waste accumulation in landfills or incineration. This work aims to develop a sustainable recycling strategy to address this environmental issue. The methodology was designed to investigate and assess the materials present in composite packaging, their compatibility with various solvents, and the feasibility of recovering packaging components such as paper, synthetic polymers, metals, and others. Additionally, the study aimed to recover solvents used in the process and determine the calorific value of the recycled samples. Using Hansen Solubility Parameters, we identified the most effective solvents for dissolving the composite food packages under analysis. Following solubilization, two samples (SL1’ and SH1’) were selected for further investigation, both dissolved using p-Cymene. These samples underwent FTIR-ATR and NMR analysis, that enabled the identification of specific polymers, including PE (Polyethylene), LDPE (Low-density polyethylene), HDPE (High-density polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene), and PC (Polycarbonate), present on those composite packaging. Furthermore, both samples were incinerated, and their calorific values were measured, ranging from 18.19 to 18.76 MJkg−1, demonstrating that they have potential for being valorized via energy recovery.