摘要 |
A plastic package uses a substrate and an overlay, where both the substrate and the overlay are of materials which can be recycled together, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The plastic used for the overlay may be different from the plastic used for the substrate, provided that the plastics are of the same thermoplastic family, or are of types which are compatible for recycling together. A method of making the package includes the steps of: positioning the product on a vacuum-forming fixture; heating a first layer of thermoplastic, positioning it over the product, and applying a vacuum to the fixture to pull the first layer of thermoplastic onto the product; and thermally bonding the first layer and a second layer of recycling-compatible thermoplastic to each other with the product between them, so as to capture the product. Apparatus having lease two stations is provided to carry out the method and thereby produce the package.
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