New Japanese technology recovers polyethylene from used milk cartons

Refineverse Group announced on 6 April that it has successfully developed a technology to refine and purify polyethylene film used in milk cartons. The process enables the recovery of high-purity plastic that was previously difficult to recycle due to paper pulp contamination. The company intends to implement this technology at its Gamagori Plant in Aichi Prefecture starting this June.

Approximately 88,000 tonnes of paper beverage cartons are collected annually in Japan. While the industry successfully recovers paper pulp from these containers, the polyethylene film used for waterproofing and durability has historically been limited to thermal recovery. Technical constraints meant that residual pulp remained attached to the plastic, rendering it unsuitable for high-quality material recycling.

Refineverse Group challenges this issue by adapting its existing separation and refining technologies. The new process separates the residual pulp from the polyethylene film, achieving a purity level of over 98 per cent. The company estimates that of the total cartons collected, approximately 17,000 tonnes consist of polyethylene film that can now be transformed into a valuable resource.

The resulting recycled polyethylene is a versatile raw material. It meets the quality standards required for both material recycling and as a crude feedstock for chemical recycling, such as oiling or naphtha production. This flexibility allows the material to be used across various industrial sectors, further pushing the circulation of waste plastics in Japan.

Refineverse Group plans to continue refining the technology with a target purity of 99.9 per cent. The company also aims to apply these separation techniques to other complex waste streams, including aluminium laminate films and the removal of paint from automotive bumpers. The group seeks to strengthen circular supply chains and reduce reliance on virgin fossil resources.