PS

(Polystyrene)

PS is made from styrene.

 

PS film is produced from a mixture of GPPS (General Purpose PS – also called glass) and HIPS (High Impact PS). Pure GPPS is a glass clarity material but very brittle.

HIPS is a GPPS to which butadiene rubber has been added. This makes it softer (providing improved impact resistance) and also more fat-resistant.

PS is suitable for use between -40°C and +85°C.

Production process
A flat film is extruded, which is then cooled and calibrated in thickness between two cooling rollers before being wound into large reels. In the thermoforming process, the film is heated until it is soft enough to be fed into the forming machine.

The item is formed under high air pressure/vacuum, cooled and punched out of the film.

Skeletal waste and running-in materials are ground and reused in the next production of film.

Product safety
At Færch Plast, we only use raw materials guaranteed by our suppliers to meet the requirements in the EU directive EC 2002/72 (rules governing which monomers and other basic materials can be used in the manufacture of plastic raw materials intended to come into contact with food).

The raw materials also comply with the EU directive EEC 94/62 concerning heavy metals.

In the absence of EU legislative regulations covering colour master-batch we demand our supplier complies with the German BfR guidelines (formerly BgVV), which with regard to PS are:

Empfehlung V (GPPS), Empfehlung VI (HIPS) and Empfehlung IX (colourmaster-batch).

In order to ensure that legislation is respected we carry out migration measurements. Our PS products are tested under the following conditions:

2 hours at 85°C, followed by 10 days at 40°C in olive oil
2 hours at 85°C, followed by 10 days at 40°C in 3% acetic acid
2 hours at 85°C, followed by 10 days at 40°C in 15% ethanol

All migration test results comply with the EU-specified limits. The migration tests are carried out by internationally recognised test institutes, and are always kept up to date with respect to legislative changes.

We also have certificates from Normpack (Sweden) and Emballasje-konvensjonen (Norway).

Use
PS is suitable as packaging for fresh food and for food not intended for heating in the packaging.

Hygiene
Hygiene plays a vital role throughout the company. For more than 10 years Færch Plast has been focusing on hygiene issues and has been hygiene accredited since 1998.

In 2002 Færch Plast was the first danish manufacturer of packaging for direct food contact to be accredited with the BRC/IOP technical Standard by Bureau Veritas Quality International. The accreditation ensures, that all aspects of hygiene, product quality and product safety, are respected fully.

Energy and the Environment 
Færch Plast is continually trying to minimise its environmental impact and reduce the amount of energy used in production. This focus is maintained through energy management and energy control using a CRM system, which controls, regulates and monitors energy consumption and processes. Before production equipment is purchased, it has to satisfy rigorous criteria for economical energy consumption and lower environmental impact.

Waste disposal
Reuse
After use as food packaging, PS trays can be ground and reused for secondary, non-food purposes.

Incineration
When incinerated, PS produces more energy than it consumes, and can re-enter natural cycle. Complete incineration of PS produces CO2, H2O, CO and small quantities of ash.

Handling
PS products from Færch Plast contain only raw materials approved for food packaging.

Disposal
PS is suitable for landfill sites without any known risk to the environment.

Storage
Packaging made from PS should be stored in dry conditions under 30°C.