GUIDE FOR GRANULATING PE FILM FROM ACERETECH

Polyethylene (PE) has been the world's most important chemical feedstock since its industrial production. in 2019, global polyethylene production capacity reached 121 million tons. The countries with the highest polyethylene production capacity are China and North America, and China is also the world's largest importer of polyethylene. Film, blow molding, injection molding and pipes are the main applications of polyethylene, with film accounting for 49.7% of total consumption. In China, the use of PE-based flexible packaging has grown rapidly in recent years due to the surge in e-commerce logistics, distribution and take-out, accounting for 52% of total PE consumption. With such a huge market demand, China's PE production capacity continues to expand. In total, nearly 30 companies will continue to add PE production facilities from 2019 to 2025. Therefore, China should become a major PE consumer and manufacturer in terms of PE supply and demand. However, China is still in its infancy in the later stages of PE flexible packaging recycling. Not only the recycling volume is low, but also the recycling value is low, the recycling quality is uneven, coupled with the lack of market mechanism and specialized recycling facilities, recyclers have no incentive to recycle, the cost is high, recycling companies in a loss-making situation do not have enough raw materials to expand their production, and the value of recycled materials is low.

Common PE films that can be recycled include flooring films, greenhouse films, packaging films and cleaning residue pellets from factories. In particular, polymeric lithium battery diaphragm pellets, BOPP pellets, BOPET pellets, etc.

Since polyethylene film packaging will be used on a large scale for a long time, it is especially important to design machines for polyethylene recycling and pelletizing.

Based on the current state of plastic pollutants in China in terms of quantity, type and quality, it is entirely possible to innovate and start with basic recycling programs, such as film bags from traditional stores or agricultural films. What we can do now: collect flexible packaging plastics that are difficult to recycle and pelletize. Focus on the collection difficulties of the flexible packaging plastic recycling problem. Large-scale collection of flexible packaging, coupled with the promotion and application of flexible packaging recyclability designs, will solve the problem of recycling and reuse of flexible packaging.

Film recycling and pelletizing have become legal requirements as a result of the new Solid Waste Act and Opinions. Everyone involved in plastic recycling activities is by far the most important way to recycle plastic. For companies, plastic film manufacturing strategies should not be solely cost-driven; it is necessary to add recycled raw materials to the manufacturing process. If you want to reduce the cost of recycled raw materials, you should strictly adhere to the recyclable design of PE plastics and promote the recycling and pelletizing of waste plastics in areas where recycling facilities are available.