Budenheim/Paris/Brussels – April 5, 2024 For the first time in the European lubricants industry, two key players have joined forces to design a new closure using recycled material. TotalEnergies and BERICAP are launching a closure for 20-liter lubricant packaging incorporating 50% postconsumer recycled plastic (PCR) in compliance with DIN 60 standards for lubricants.
TotalEnergies Lubrifiants’ 20-liter premium lubricant cans made in France and Belgium will be fitted with the new closures made from 50% PCR material.
Fully embodying a circular/closed-loop approach, the raw material processed by BERICAP into can closures for TotalEnergies Lubrifiants comes from TotalEnergies’ own circular polymer range RE:clic. rPE57525 combines mechanically recycled polyethylene with a high-performing booster to achieve virgin-like performances. By switching from the current DIN 60 standard closure to DIN 60 ECO, weight savings come to 25%.
TotalEnergies Lubrifiants aims at reducing its consumption of virgin plastic by gradually integrating the new recycled closures on its various lubricant ranges. This innovation is in line with both partners’ strategy and commitment to contributing to a circular economy.
Carsten Pfromm, Business Development Director Industrial at BERICAP, said: “At BERICAP we are committed to a long-term strategy of contributing to a circular economy by developing user friendly, resource-conserving and recyclable closures. For that reason we are more than happy to collaborate with partners such as TotalEnergies Lubrifiants. The new DIN 60 closure for the 20-liter packaging is another example of weight reduction without sacrificing quality or user friendliness. 25% less weight and the use of PCR makes a significant contribution to the reduction of our carbon footprint and the advancement of closed-loop material cycles. We can also offer other closures such as DIN 45 and 51 in PCR.”
Emir Cetin, Global Packaging Manager at TotalEnergies Lubrifiants, said: “Our collaboration with BERICAP on this range of 20-liter packaging closures demonstrates our shared commitment to circular economy. We are excited to begin using these new closures made with 50% recycled plastic. This initiative will set a new standard for sustainability in the lubricant packaging cap industry.”
Olivier Greiner, Vice President, Polymers Europe & Orient at TotalEnergies, said: “We are committed to helping our partners achieve their sustainability goals and to addressing the challenge of end-of-life plastics. This development responds to the growing demand for more innovative and sustainable plastics and fully contributes to our ambition to reach one million tons of circular polymers a year by 2030.”
About BERICAP
BERICAP is one of the leading global manufacturers of plastic and aluminum closures, with 29 production plants serving customers in over 100 countries across the world. With specialized R&D centers and its own mold shop, BERICAP is ideally equipped for the development of innovative and climate-friendly closures and to support its customers’ success with a comprehensive portfolio of products.
Best manufacturing practices at BERICAP are centrally coordinated and regularly reviewed at each plant to ensure superior quality. All BERICAP plants are ISO 9000 and BRC-IOP or ISO 22000-certified. Its highest priorities are product safety, consumer convenience and design flexibility, as well as process safety and sustainability. BERICAP is particularly committed to material reduction through the development of lightweight designs and the use of biobased and recycled materials (PCR). In this way it is helping to conserve natural resources and close the loop in the packaging industry.
About TotalEnergies Lubrifiants
TotalEnergies is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of lubricants, with 42 production sites around the world and more than 5,800 employees in 160 countries. TotalEnergies’ Lubricants division offers innovative, high-performance and environmentally friendly products and services, developed by its R&D centers, which employ over 130 researchers. TotalEnergies’ lubricants division is a key partner for players in the automotive, industrial and marine markets.
About TotalEnergies and Polymers
TotalEnergies develops, produces and commercializes polymers — polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, their recycled equivalents and biopolymers — that can be incorporated in the plastics manufacturing process. Lighter than many alternative materials, they help reduce the carbon footprint of end-use applications through enhanced energy efficiency. TotalEnergies’ polymers experts in Europe, Asia and the United States of America are working alongside all the professionals in the value chain, including plastic manufacturers, research centers, waste collection and sorting companies, and their customers to accelerate in the circular economy. The company is developing different plastic recycling processes and using renewable raw materials, with the ambition to reach one million tons of circular polymers by 2030.
