Safety assessment of the process Green Loop System, used to recycle polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PCTG) plates for use as food contact materials

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Green Loop System (EU register number RECYC174), a closed and controlled product loop. The input consists of washed plates of polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PCTG) having been used in, e.g. canteens. The plates are ground, converted to new plates, returned to the users of the loop and used as before recycling. The management system to ensure a closed loop is critical, i.e. compliance of the origin of the input with Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 and full traceability from input to final product should be ensured. The Panel concluded that the input of the process Green Loop System originates from product loops that are in a closed and controlled chain, designed to ensure that only materials and articles that have been intended for food contact are used and that contamination other than by food can be ruled out. The recycling process Green Loop System is, therefore, able to recycle PCTG plates intended for repeated use, for contact with aqueous, acidic and fatty food, at low and high temperatures.