Global science company Solvay, headquartered in Belgium, has completed a proof of concept for recycling post-industrial polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). The recycling process maintains the polymer’s barrier characteristics, a key concern for companies desiring a circular solution for their PVDC packaging waste.

PVDC is used worldwide in multilayer barrier packaging. Markets include fresh meat packaging and other food products, beverage, and healthcare where PVDC provides a strong barrier against water vapor, oxygen, and odors/aromas. In Solvay’s proof of concept, the company demonstrated the possibility of recycling Ixan PVDC bioriented film from a post-industrial, food-packaging waste source without compromising the polymer’s barrier performance.

“The proof of concept developed by our research team is a solution for PVDC packaging circularity. It shows there is a possibility to reintegrate the recycled polymer into future applications, meaning it can be re-used and re-blended with virgin materials — without losing or degrading its high-barrier properties,” said Claire Guerrero, global marketing manager for packaging segment and sustainability at Solvay, in a prepared statement.

To follow up on the proof of concept, Solvay is encouraging other companies in the plastics industry to do their part toward making PVDC recycling a reality. Creating an infrastructure for collecting and separating packaging containing PVDC is particularly important.

“It goes without saying that setting a global PVDC recycling stream is a huge task, so we are therefore inviting our fellow companies to work alongside us to introduce a way to recycle PVDC across the globe. We all have a role to play in the plastic packaging recycling challenge, and Solvay is committed to playing its part,” Guerrero added.