Recycled baling twine (PCR)

While in the world of agriculture it’s important to know the types and conditions of the soil where the crop will be planted, as well as the prevailing climate and environmental factors that affect it, it is also essential to consider some of the main tools that are used once harvest time arrives. In this opportunity, we will talk about recycled baling twine.

Why is it important to consider recycled baling twine?

Basically because when agricultural producers carry out the harvesting process they usually use baling machines that are in charge of gathering the crop and placing it in bales, which will be moved to a storage location later on.

These baling machines use twine to hold together the compacted crop. This not only prevents the loss of a large part of the harvested crop once it is transferred to another facility but also extends the life and quality of the bale.

By using recycled baling twine we enter the wheel of circular economy which, in the case of the agricultural sector, would seek to reuse plastic materials used in the field to give them new life.

Currently, one of the companies that is developing this type of recycled baling twine is Reyenvas, which belongs to the Armando Alvarez Group, and whose products include Black Label Twine and Tiger Twine. Below, we will talk a little about these products.

Why develop recycled baling solutions?

According to Miguel Bosquet, a specialist in the agricultural area and current head of the Twine Division at Armando Alvarez Group, one of the main reasons for developing recycled baling twine is because it meets farmers’ expectations in terms of the application of these baling products and, in turn, contributes to participate in the protection of the environment.

Today, products made from recycled raw materials can be found in bottles, containers, clothing, packaging, and furniture, to name a few, and manufacturers of solutions for the agricultural sector are no strangers to this trend.

Why is the reuse of raw materials important?

It is no secret to anyone that the production and consumption of plastic products have increased over the years, just take a look at the numbers that reflect the production of plastics in the world. “In the year 1950 alone, 1.5 million tons were produced, while by the year 2018 the production was already 359 million tons,” according to Bosquet.

Although in the agricultural area the production and use of plastics have a small percentage, compared to other areas such as construction, packaging, furniture, and automobiles, among others, it is necessary to do something with the plastic that is used in agriculture, so it can be recovered, recycled, and reused in some other way.

Armando Alvarez Group’s commitment to manufacturing products from recycled materials includes the following aspects:

• Reduce the thickness of plastics
• Recycle our own internal production waste
• Purchase certified raw materials
• Implement a system to reduce PVC waste from cores
• Fulfill a commitment acquired with customers for collection and recycling (programs in Spain, France, Germany, etc.)
• In the case of Reyenvas, efforts are focused on reducing the carbon footprint of companies that use its products made from recycled material
• Improve emissions control and compliance with CO2 reduction commitments

The idea is that by using such materials, such as recycled baling twine, the carbon footprint can be reduced by at least 20%-30% compared to packaging solutions made from virgin material.

However, aside from all the commitment to protect the environment, what the farmer must keep in mind is that, in addition, these packaging solutions made of recycled material fully meet the customer’s expectations of use. We will go over this aspect in a success story later on.

What packaging solutions made from recycled materials can be found in the agricultural market?

In this opportunity, we will highlight two of the solutions manufactured by Reyenvas: Black Label Twine and Tiger Twine.

Black Label Twine is the first brand within Reyenvas’ recycled baling twine solutions and is an all-black twine, while Tiger Twine, part of the brand’s second line, is a bicolor twine (orange and black).

According to Bosquet, to create these recycled baling twines it is necessary to bring together several “ingredients” to create high-quality products that meet the needs of agricultural producers.

To obtain an almost equivalent to a fully “virgin material” it is necessary to have a mixture between PIR (Post-Industrial Recycled Raw Material) and PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled Raw Material).

PIR is the raw material made from waste generated within the plastics industry and PCR is the raw material made from consumer or end-user waste. These raw materials are combined to create a new product that is recycled at the same time since it comes from products that have already been used once.

“In the case of PCR, we are in the process of certification by AENOR that is in charge of measuring the carbon footprint in products”, indicates Bosquet.

Main concerns when talking about agricultural solutions made from recycled materials:

Certain doubts tend to arise when talking about products made from recycled materials, as agricultural producers are not willing to sacrifice the results obtained with the materials they had already been using to bet on solutions made from recycled material.

However, with all the advances in terms of innovation and development, it is now more feasible to have recycled baling twines that actually do their job, as well as being environmentally friendly.

Technical properties of Black Label Twine and Tiger Twine:

• Use of post-industrial recycled material with at least 30%. This percentage fluctuates according to the grade of raw material available at the time of manufacture.
• Strong fibrillated twine structure.
• Good knot strength and resistance.
• Black and black/orange color for better visibility.
• Suitable for all brands of machines.