Recyclers recognize Coke, Behr, Mohawk
ARLINGTON, VA. - The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers gave three Creative Use awards at its June meeting to companies using recycled plastic in their products.
APR, based in Arlington, recognized Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co., paint manufacturer Behr Process Corp. in Santa Ana, Calif., and carpet maker Mohawk Industries Inc. in Calhoun, Ga.
The group wanted to reward Coke's ``substantial and committed'' use of post-consumer PET in bottles, ahead of its stated goals of 10 percent recycled content in all of its PET bottles by 2005, said APR director Robin Cotchan.
``We would like them to continue to use recycled content as the industry infrastructure will allow,'' she said.
APR did not give an award to PepsiCo Inc., even though Pepsi recently announced the same goal. Cotchan said the group would like to see Pepsi make more progress.
Behr was given an award because the company recently switched its paint cans from metal to 100 percent recycled polypropylene. APR recognized Mohawk for its ``substantial and committed'' use of recycled PET in its carpets, Cotchan said.
Paperboard coating wins funds for Evco
ATLANTA - A venture capital fund has invested $500,000 in Evco Research LLC, an Atlanta firm that uses PET bottles to make a recyclable coating for paperboard.
The money from the Sustainable Jobs Fund LP will provide Evco with working capital to fill growing orders, including an order for wax-free poultry packaging from International Paper that uses Evco's product, according to a news release from both firms.
Evco said its PET-based coating is water-repellent and is designed to replace nonrecyclable paraffin-wax coating.
Durham, N.C.-based SJF is a $17 million fund that invests some of its money in companies that generate entry-level jobs and that have socially or environmentally oriented products.
David Kirkpatrick, SJF managing director, said SJF also invests in Selectech Inc. in Taunton, Mass., injection molder of products made with post-consumer and post-industrial plastics.
Recycled PET gains Canada's OK for food
BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - Phoenix Technologies LP has gained approval from the Canadian government to use recycled PET from its manufacturing process in food and beverage containers.
The approval by the Health Products and Food Branch of the Canadian Bureau of Chemical Safety follows a similar OK in 1999 from the Food and Drug Administration. The Canadian approval, like that of the FDA, covers all uses and includes 100 percent curbside.