Top Green® Copolyester Film is Recognized for Improved Recyclability by The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)

ANN ARBOR, Mich., February 20, 2020 - Far Eastern New Century’s Top Green® Heat Shrinkable PET film for shrink sleeve labels has been recognized by The Association of Plastic Recyclers for meeting or exceeding APR’s Critical Guidance Protocol for Clear PET Articles with Labels and Closures requirements (PET-CG-02). The announcement was made this week at the APR Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.

The heat shrinkable PET film delivers significantly improved recyclability of post-consumer PET bottles compared to alternative polyester materials such as PETG, according to George Pinter, a partner with Klear Plastic Ventures LLC (KPV), an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based distributor of FENC’s heat shrinkable film in the U.S. and Canada. The majority of shrink films currently used for sleeve labels made in the U.S./Canada is unable to meet the APR guidelines. 

“Offering a more environmentally friendly, recyclable film to our label customers and brand owners is very important,” said Pinter. “We are thrilled that APR has recognized this important development for FENC’s Top Green® copolyester Heat Shrinkable Film.”

During the PET bottle recycling process, polyester shrink sleeve labels that remain with the bottle are ground into flake and sink along with the PET bottle flake. FENC’s TopGreen® PET film creates negligible clumping and intrinsic viscosity (IV) drop, both of which are detrimental to the value of the recycled PET plastic. Some of the competitive polyester shrink sleeve films melt at a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the PET bottle flake and do not crystallize. This causes clumping during the PET bottle recycling process.

Klear Plastic Ventures will work with its customers and ink suppliers to promote the use of TopGreen® film with washable and non-staining ink systems, to provide a more complete recycling solution.

Far Eastern New Century (FENC) is a 70-year-old Taiwanese company with an international reputation for technology, quality and service. In addition to heat shrinkable film, FENC is one of the largest PET resin producers in the world. This includes a PET resin production site in Apple Grove, W.Va. FENC is also one of the world’s largest recyclers of PET bottles. FENC purchased Phoenix Technologies in Bowling Green, Ohio, a leading supplier of recycled PET, in 2019.

Klear Plastic Ventures distributes FENC TDO, heat shrinkable film in the U.S., Canada, and other markets. KPV provides shrink sleeve film customers with local warehousing and logistics, slitting, short lead times, and competitive pricing.

About Klear Plastic Ventures
Klear Plastic Ventures LLC was formed by packaging industry veterans with more than 50 years combined experience in global procurement, supply chain, business development, and operations. The company uses this background and experience to bring its customers cost-effective sourcing solutions for their PET film, sheet or resin requirements. KPV provides East and West Coast warehousing as well as logistical support. The company is focused on sustainability and through its supplier partners offers post-consumer recycled (PCR) and bio-content alternatives across a range of products. For more information, visit http://www. klearplasticventures.com.

Company contacts:
George Pinter − Partner
Matt Kaufman – Partner
Klear Plastic Ventures, LLC
2531 Jackson Ave., Suite 223
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
PET@klearplasticventures.com

Press Contact:
Joseph Grande|
J. Grande communications Inc.
413.684.2463
joe@jgrandecommunications.com

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