Phoenix Technologies Receives FDA ‘No Objection’ Letter

 Phoenix Technologies LP was granted a letter of no objection April 24 from the Food and Drug Administration to use recycle PET material from its Phoenix Process for use in hot-fill containers.

The company received two FDA non-objection letters in August of 1999 to use two different patented processes for containers. “The ruling was unprecedented in that Phoenix was the first company to receive FDA approval for direct blend of RPET into food containers using up to 100 percent content from curbside material”, explained Jean Bina, manager of Commercial Operations.

The second set of FDA non-objection letters covers Conditions of Use B-H. The initial Letter of No Objection covered Condition of Use A, a market primarily focused on CSD and water applications.

Phoenix started operation of its first 18MM lb. commercial line for food-grade curbside material last December, and "has significant interest and commitment from a number of key bottle producers for long term volume," Bina said.

The firm is adding another 10,000 square feet of space in anticipation of a second production line, bringing its total to 79,000 square feet.

Donald Hayward, general manager of Phoenix Technologies, said, “We are pleased with the continuing success we have met in bringing our patented process for recycled PET to full scale commercialization. The hot fill announcement will further expand curbside post-consumer recycled plastic to be used for direct food contact applications." The initial project goal was to develop a unique, proprietary and low cost approach to purifying post-consumer recycled PET to produce food-grade quality material. 

This plant is the first facility in North America, and the only one worldwide, providing a merchant supply source for FDA recycled curbside PET. Products available include food grade RPET flake and food grade RPET pellet.