PRESS RELEASE - Petcore Europe organised Workshop on Recycling Rigid PET Thermoforms in Brussels

Industry, collection agencies and recyclers work together to make PET thermoforms the best recyclable thermoformed packaging in its category

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Petcore Europe recently convened a workshop on the Recycling of Rigid PET Thermoforms in Brussels involving fifty leaders and experts from the whole PET value chain in Europe. Some of the most important companies and organisations from PET producers, to converters, users, recyclers, technology providers and collection agencies discussed how the industry can work together to make PET thermoforms the best recyclable thermoformed packaging in its category.

“The recycling of PET is a success story,” explained one of the organisers, Wim Hoenderdaal from Indorama. ”It is the only example on large scale where the circle is closed at the highest level and where new high quality packaging can be made out of recycled resin.”

Recycled PET is used to make new bottles and thermoforms. This is especially true for PET thermoforms (mainly trays) which are produced with a content of r-PET (recycled PET) often above 70% fully complying with food contact regulations.  

The one-day workshop was structured in three parts: Collection and Sorting including the current state in different countries like Germany, Belgium, UK and France, Packaging Technologies as well as Recycling Technologies. Each session was followed by a lively panel debate where participants discussed and shared knowledge.

“PET is the only value chain that takes care of the complete life-cycle of its products, including thermoforms,” outlined Patrick Peuch, Executive Director of Petcore Europe. “Therefore, the goal of this workshop was to build and promote a working group to specifically update the state-of-the-art in PET thermoforms life-cycle, including design-for-recycling, packaging technologies, collection, sorting and recycling technologies.”

Petcore Europe believes that this workshop marks the beginning of a technical platform that will be set up involving the most important players of the industry to work on improving yet further the recycling of PET.

 

If you would like to receive more information about the Petcore Europe Technical Platform on Recycling Rigid PET Thermoforms, please contact Eva Schneider, [email protected].

Eva Schneider

Communications Officer Petcore Europe, www.petcore-europe.org

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About Petcore Europe

Petcore Europe is the association representing the complete PET value chain in Europe since 1993.

Its mission is to ensure that the entire PET industry is well aligned to enhance its value and sustainable growth, to represent the PET industry before the European institutions and other stakeholders, to ensure that PET is positioned as an outstanding packaging material and recognised as environmentally sound, to support and validate innovative packaging solutions from a recycling perspective, and to work with all interested parties to ensure a continuous increase of PET post-consumer collection and recycling.

PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) is a strong but lightweight form of polyester. It is used to make containers for soft drinks, juices, drinks, water, edible oil, fresh food and dairy as well as household cleaners and other non-food applications. PET bottles and food containers, such as sheets and trays are perfectly recyclable while they help to reduce CO2 emissions and food waste.

Contact

Avenue de Broqueville 12 1150 Brussels, Belgium

+32 (0) 2 315 24 88

[email protected]

www.petcore-europe.org