Polypropylene Recycling Coalition adds Milliken & Co.

Milliken & Co., Spartanburg, South Carolina, has joined The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition. The industry collaborative established by the Falls Church, Virginia-based nonprofit is working to improve polypropylene (PP) recovery and recycling in the U.S., and Milliken says it will help by funding the coalition’s efforts to enhance PP recycling infrastructure nationwide, establishing consumer education programs that encourage curbside recycling and offering its product portfolio to packaging producers looking to use recycled PP.

According to The Recycling Partnership’s “2020 State of Curbside Recycling” report, as much as 1.6 billion pounds of PP may be available annually from single-family homes for recycling into new products. The Polypropylene Recycling Coalition aims to improve PP recycling in the U.S. by awarding grant dollars for sorting equipment and supporting consumer education programs and research. Through these efforts, the coalition says it will help make it easier for people to recycle PP and ensure more recyclers can effectively sort the material in their facilities.

“Milliken’s partnership with the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition illustrates our goal of convening thought leaders within the plastics industry to help create meaningful solutions to address the plastics end-of-life challenge,” says Halsey Cook, president and CEO for Milliken & Co.

Allen Jacoby, senior vice president, plastics additives, for Milliken’s Chemical Division, adds, “Our membership in the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition is one way we are improving the quality and performance of recycled polypropylene. It will add a new dimension to our goal to boost plastic circularity—which includes maintaining a robust portfolio of additives and modifiers.”

Milliken says its DeltaMax Performance Modifiers, UltraFit Solutions and Millad NX 8000 clarifying agent promote the recyclability of PP plastic packaging. DeltaMax Performance Modifiers optimize the physical properties and processability of recycled PP, particularly their impact resistance and melt flow. UltraFit Solutions allow converters to use recycled PP to produce parts with consistent dimensional tolerances. Millad NX 8000 clarifier received Critical Guidance Recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in 2019, validating that it is compatible with plastic packaging recycling and does not adversely affect the recyclability of PP parts, according to the company.