Eadrom

PET materials in food and beverage packaging are contributing to the continued growth of plastic in our environment. A truly recyclable alternative is needed that maintains or improves the functional properties of PET whilst reducing economic and environmental costs. Addressing this challenge would minimise the environmental impact of plastic containers, address a critical issue in sustainability within the packaging industry and provide a strong commercial opportunity for exploitation in Ireland.

Development of a manufacturing process that allows light weighting glass to 1/3 of normal weight whilst maintaining or improving strength and so minimizing barriers such as cost and GHG emissions (note that transport costs are not material if the entire manufacturing cycle is considered), in order to provide a truly recyclable avenue to replace PET packaging. This project introduces innovative techniques to minimise the role of defects and so increase the effective strength and fracture toughness of the material so that thin glass parts can be formed that allow the strength of much thicker parts to be exceeded and so use as a replacement for fossil fuel-based polymer containers.