System and method for recycling and recapture of bio-based plastics
View Patent ↗A method for reclaiming bio-based plastic material is disclosed, including providing a bio-based plastic article, the article including an identifier, determining article content information from or via the identifier, and recycling the article based on article content information. Further, a system for reclaiming bio-based plastic material is disclosed, including an apparatus or device configured to obtain or determine a bio-based material content associated with a plastic article, and an apparatus or device configured to sort the plastic article based upon the bio-based material content of the plastic article. A bio-based plastic article comprising recycled bio-based material is also disclosed.
1. A bio-based plastic container comprising recycled bio-based material, the bio-based plastic container comprising between about 1% and about 50% by weight of recycled bio-based material;
wherein the bio-based plastic container is comprised of both recycled bio-based polyethylene terephthalate and petrol-based polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein the bio-based plastic container includes an identifier that is part of the plastic or within the plastic; and
wherein the identifier represents or discloses information that distinguishes between the content of recycled bio-based polyethylene terephthalate and the content of petrol-based polyethylene terephthalate comprising the bio-based plastic container.
2. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier represents or discloses a bio-based material percentage.
3. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier includes one or more additives, and the one or more additives distinguishing the bio-based plastic container from a petrol-based container.
4. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a colorant or dye.
5. The bio-based plastic container of claim 4 , wherein the colorant or dye is included in resin forming the bio-based plastic container.
6. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is not visible/perceptible to a human eye without special equipment.
7. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier represents or discloses a percentage of the bio-based plastic container that is comprised of a bio-based material.
8. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , including a distinguishing or visible mark that designates the plastic container as bio-based.
9. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a marker.
10. The bio-based plastic container of claim 9 , wherein the marker includes one of more of the following: UV dye, colorant, chemical trace, organic additive, tint.
11. The bio-based plastic container of claim 9 , wherein the marker is a compound added to a resin forming the bio-based plastic container.
12. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier includes a tracer.
13. The bio-based plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the tracer distinguishes resin produced by a manufacturer from similar resins produced by others.
14. The bio-based plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the tracer is at a level in the single parts per billion or less.
15. The bio-based plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the tracer is added during a melt polymerization phase or a solid state polymerization stage.
16. The bio-based plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the tracer identifies bio-based containers for recovery within a recycling process.
17. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the recycled bio-based material includes PCR bio-based material.
18. The bio-based plastic container of claim 17 , wherein the PCR bio-based material is up to 100% of the total weight of the bio-based plastic container in an un-filled condition.
19. The bio-based plastic container of claim 17 , wherein the PCR bio-based material comprises up to 30% bio-based PCR resin.
20. The bio-based plastic container of claim 17 , wherein the PCR bio-based material comprises between about 1% and about 20% of the total weight of the bio-based plastic container in an un-filled condition.
21. The bio-based plastic container of claim 17 , wherein the PCR bio-based material comprises between about 1% and about 20% of the total weight of the bio-based plastic container in an un-filled condition, a virgin material comprises about 80% to about 99% of the total weight of the container, and the virgin material is bio-based.
22. The bio-based plastic container of claim 17 , wherein the recycled bio-based material comprises one or more of the following: up to 30% bio-based PCR resin, 100% bio-based PCR resin, and/or a custom blend of PCR bio-based resins.
23. The bio-based plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a colorant or dye that is included in resin forming the bio-based plastic container; the identifier is not visible/perceptible to a human eye without special equipment; the identifier represents or discloses a percentage of the bio-based plastic container that is comprised of a bio-based material; the recycled bio-based material includes PCR bio-based material; and the PCR bio-based material comprises up to 30% bio-based PCR resin.