Flo Group and Versalis have introduced R-Hybrid, a groundbreaking vending cup crafted from post-consumer recycled polystyrene (rPS).
R-Hybrid stands out for its recyclability and a notably reduced carbon footprint when compared to conventional vending cups. The official unveiling of this innovative cup is scheduled for the Plast International Exhibition for the Plastics and Rubber Industry, taking place from September 5th to 8th, 2023. This cup boasts an ABA multilayer design, where the interior layer incorporates r-PS sourced from the Versalis-Revive PS series, while the outer layer is composed of virgin PS.
In essence, R-Hybrid represents a significant leap forward in sustainable food packaging. By utilizing recycled materials, being recyclable itself, and minimizing its carbon footprint, it emerges as a more eco-friendly alternative to conventional vending cups. Key features of R-Hybrid include its ABA multilayer structure for enhanced strength, the use of recycled r-PS in its inner layer, and the incorporation of virgin PS for a safe functional barrier. This eco-conscious cup marks a pivotal milestone in the quest for sustainable packaging solutions and the realization of a circular economy for plastics.
“There are plastics and there are plastics; those used for packaging are generally among the most valuable in terms of both quality and performance. The R-Hybrid project is strategic because it finally opens the door to the reuse of polystyrene in food containers and ensures that it retains its original value,” said Erika Simonazzi, Marketing Manager of the Flo Group. “There are also numerous advantages offered by the new R-Hybrid cups as an even more sustainable solution than the traditional Hybrid, of which they are the natural technological evolution. The new R-Hybrid combines the benefits of a reduced carbon footprint and the effective reuse of post-consumer plastic that is put back into circulation through the creation of new cups.“
“The strategy of the Versalis styrenics business is based on the use of increasingly sustainable polymers obtained also from secondary raw material derived from recycled plastic In particular, the Versalis Revive® range consists of polymers containing mechanically recycled plastics fromhousehold differentiatedcollection”,said Claudio Bilotti, Head of Styrene and Polystyrene Marketing atVersalis(Eni). “Our goalis to produce and marketincreasingly sustainable products.Recycledproducts have a reduced CO2impact*and allow the use of a valuable feedstock such as post-consumer plastics, aswell as oflocal resources. They also represent animportant marketopportunityfor Versalisinfood packaging.”