EFSA opinion approves VACUREMA Prime® technology based PET recycling processes for food contact materials

The European Food and Safety Agency (EFSA) published an opinion (EFSA Journal 2012;10(10):2907) evaluates four recycling processes based on the VACUREMA Prime® technology. The processes wash and dry PET flakes retrieved from used PET bottles. They are then heated in a batch reactor and later in a continuous reactor under vacuum. Decontamination efficiency ranged from 98.9 to 99.9%. PET content from non-food consumer applications is limited to 5%. EFSA states that the use of such recycled PET materials for food contact materials intended for long term storage at room temperature is not thought to be a safety concern. The panel recommended that the recycling processes may be reviewed regularly.