On October 26, 2023, the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the whole process of Guolong's rPET production line, and Guolong's rPET products successfully passed the challenge test and obtained the EU EFSA food grade certification!

Guolong's post-consumer recycled PET production process has passed EFSA safety assessment

On October 26, 2023, the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Guangxi Wuzhou Guolong Recyclable (EU register number RECYC310), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V-leaN) technology for recycling of post-consumer PET into food contact materials.

During the testing procedure, we selected suitable alternative contaminants in agreement with the EFSA guidelines (EFSA CEF Panel, 2011) and in accordance with the recommendations of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 2006). These alternative contaminants included different molecular masses and polarities to comprehensively cover the relevant contaminant categories while proving to be suitable for monitoring the behavior of PET in the recycling process.

Guolong's post-consumer recycled PET production process

Multiple batches of contaminated PET bottle flakes were used for storage and agitation under specific conditions, and subsequently, the contaminated flakes were rinsed with specific concentrations of ethanol and tested for decontamination efficiency, while for Vacunite (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V-leaN) technology, a scale-up challenge test was undertaken. Contaminated bottle flakes were fed into the reactor and sampled at the exit for testing and analysis. 

Efficient decontamination performance of Guolong's PCR-PET recycling process

After completing multiple challenge procedures, the data provides intuitive evidence that the regeneration process of Guangxi Wuzhou Guolong Recyclable Resources Development Co., Ltd. has efficient performance in decontamination.

Guolong’s Recycled Pellet Products

Guolong's pellet products can be used to produce a large variety of beverages or materials and other products with 100% RPET that are in direct contact with the foodstuffs, such as mineral water, soft drinks, and juice bottles.

Guolong Recycling rPET Pelletizing Line 

Therefore, the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill.

Guolong’s Recycled sheet Products

Guangxi Wuzhou Guolong Renewable Resources Company was founded in 2013, located in Wuzhou Recycling Economy Park, based on the comprehensive recycling business of waste plastic resources. After 10 years of development, the three major projects of PET, HDPE, and PP have been put into production, with an annual output of 200,000 tons. Guolong Recycling business mode: upstream is the recycling of waste plastics, midstream is the processing of plastic products, and downstream is the sales and application of products, creating a sustainable ecosystem.

2021-2023 Guolong Recycling Obtains Four U.S. Drug and Food Administration (FDA) Certifications

01 R-PET sheet FDA (NOL)

In May 2021, Guolong's recycled R-PET sheet production system passed the U.S. FDA audit and certification, and obtained the FDA letter of no objection; Guolong's recycled plastic sheet can be used for PET packaging products in direct contact.

PCR-PET Sheet Obtains the FDA No Objection Letter

FDA Official No. PNC2628

Range of use: E-G

02 R-PET pellet FDA (NOL)

In August 2022, Guolong's R-PET flakes (pellets) received A-H Whole Factory Approval from the U.S. FDA; it was the pioneer to pass the U.S. FDA's official laboratory challenge test in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since September 2020, Guolong PET flakes have been undergoing more than one year of challenge testing in the official laboratory of the FDA in the U.S., from recycling bottles to cleaning bottles and flakes, extrusion pelletizing, SSP, hazardous substance addition and subsequent migration tests and challenge tests. The FDA audited Guolong's process and its ability to remove contaminants in the cleaning and recycling processes, as well as its operational plans for challenge testing and migration tests.

The FDA has certified that Guolong Recycling's post-consumer PET material can be used in the production of PET containers with up to 100% recycled content under A-H conditions. Guangxi Guolong Recycling is the pioneer food-grade R-PET producer in China to get the certification of the whole plant under A-H applicable conditions.

PCR-PET Pellets Pass FDA Challenge Test, Obtain FDA No Objection Letter

FDA Official No. PNC2783

Range of use: A-H

03 R-HDPE Pellet  FDA (NOL)

In March 2022, Guolong's R-HDPE pellets received an official No Objection Letter (NOL) from the U.S. FDA; these post-consumer recycled and re-produced R-HDPE pellets can be used for food packaging, cosmetic packaging, and other applications.

PCR-HDPE Pellet Obtains the FDA No Objection Letter

FDA Official No. PNC2752

Range of use: E-G

04 R-PP Pellet  FDA (NOL)

On June 6, 2023, Guolong Recycling received a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the U.S. FDA for food contact materials, confirming that its secondary recycling process to produce post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PCR-PP) is suitable for food contact applications.

PCR-PP Pellets Pass FDA Challenge Test, Obtain FDA No Objection

FDA Official No. PNC2752

Range of use: E-G