Is Recycled Polypropylene Food Safe

Nextek ltd a uk based plastic design and recycling consulting company and finalist of 2013 recycling innovators forum has invented an innovative process to decontaminate food grade polypropylene for reuse in a closed loop back into food packaging.

Is recycled polypropylene food safe.

It doesn t interact with food at all. Below is more information on and examples of the most common plastics used in food packaging available at the society of plastics engineers spe and plastics industry association pia along with safety information from the fda. The fda began to approve recycled polypropylene as food safe in 2013. Typically mixed plastics are practically impossible to recycle and pose the most potential health hazards according to the sea studios foundation.

Food grade recycled pp nextek was commissioned by wrap to work in partnership with the uk packaging supply chain retailers brand owners and the recycling industry to develop a viable process to recycle household polypropylene pp packaging waste into recycled pp rpp approved for use in the manufacture of food packaging. If you look at the bottom of your plastic food storage containers and they have a 2 4 or 5 those are generally recognized as safe for food and drink. While it s best to avoid plastic food storage containers altogether there are safer choices if you don t have the means to make the switch yet. The resin identification code or recycling number on plastic identifies the type of plastic.

1 that contaminants from the post consumer material may appear in the final food contact. Challenges and opportunities in polypropylene recycling efforts to improve pp recycling have been ongoing. These may be made exclusively of plastic or they may consist of a plastic layer on top of another material such as metal or paper. They are an inert material which means that they don t pose health risks to consumers.

It s nonvolatile and doesn t react to liquids acids or bases so it s perfect to store a wide variety of foods. Pp plastics have been approved safe for food contact by the fda. Recycled polypropylene was approved as food safe by the fda in 2013. Polypropylene s high melting point makes it suitable for microwaveable food containers.

Fda s main safety concerns with the use of recycled plastic materials in food contact articles are. Food contact materials are all materials and articles intended to come into contact with food such as packaging and containers kitchen equipment cutlery and dishes. Bpa may also create genetic damage and may effect development.