Objective
Reformulate an Entire Food Service Line With BPA Free Materials
Roltex (Belgium) and Mälarplast (Sweden) manufacture a broad range of durable food service products, such as trays, tableware, drinkware, all historically made using bisphenol A (BPA). The EU BPA ban, enforceable from July 2026, left the companies with two clear objectives: be BPA free across their entire portfolio and create a fully recyclable material loop, safe for reuse in food contact applications to meet their long-term sustainability goals.
Challenge
Finding a BPA Free Alternative That Raises the Bar, Not Just Meets It
Roltex and Mälarplast had a higher ambition than simply finding a compliant substitute. Any replacement material had to match or exceed the performance of the outgoing grade. It needed to be mechanically strong enough for heavy-use environments, optically clear, heat-resistant for dishwasher (up to 90 degrees Celsius) and hot-fill applications, and compatible with existing tooling.
Solution
Eastman Tritan Copolyester: A BPA Free Alternative for Demanding Food-Contact Applications
Working closely with both companies, our experts evaluated product applications, processing requirements, and performance targets. The recommendation was clear: Eastman Tritan copolyester. It delivered on every front — impact- and shatter-resistant, durable, optically clear, and heat-resistant (up to 90 degrees Celsius). Critically, it was also fully compatible with their existing machinery.
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"For Roltex and Mälarplast, compliance was never a limitation; it was an opportunity. They came to us with clear ambitions, and our job was to find the material that could meet all of them and ensure an uninterrupted supply throughout and beyond the transition,"
Tim Toth, Sales & Product Manager at IMCD Advanced Materials |
Results
Fully Recyclable Material Loop, Safe for Reuse in Food-Contact Applications
Mälarplast and Roltex have successfully replaced all polycarbonate and modified PET materials in their existing range of kitchenware with Tritan. The results are less scrap in production and higher quality products in terms of durability, clarity, and sustainability.
Furthermore, with the support of IMCD and Eastman, Roltex launched the ‘Green Loop System’ – a practical closed-loop approach to recycling kitchenware for commercial kitchens and restaurants. At end-of-life, Roltex collects used Tritan products, grinds them down, and reprocesses the recovered material into new products. As Tritan can be reprocessed repeatedly without loss of quality or food-contact safety, the same material remains in circulation, reducing material use by 98%.[1]
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"We've always set the bar high when it comes to product quality. We've made a strong progress with the current transition and have also begun to incorporate recycled content into our production process, further delivering on our commitment to sustainability,"
Peter Wall, Owner of Mälarplast |
Product
Key Benefits of Eastman Tritan Copolyester
- BPA- and BPS-free: Free of bisphenols, phthalates, and halogens, with no estrogenic or androgenic activity — independently verified by third-party laboratories
- Impact resistance and durability: Shatter-resistant and tough enough to withstand repeated heavy use, drops, and thousands of dishwasher cycles without cracking or clouding
- Glass-like optical clarity: Maintains high transparency and aesthetic appeal across the product lifetime, supporting premium positioning for food service applications
- Heat and chemical resistance: Dishwasher-safe and resistant to staining, odour absorption, and common cleaning chemicals — critical for commercial food service environments
Learn more
Discuss Eastman Tritan Copolyester With Our Experts
Want to learn more about Tritan, request a sample, or discuss your challenges in the BPA transition with an expert? Fill in the form, and our team will get in touch with you.
