PET | INNOVATION
The PET recycling sector’s market and regulatory issues have not stopped companies in their development of innovative technology solutions. By Chris Saunders
IMAGE: DEPOLY
RPET: Going beyond tackling what is easy
In Europe, eight out of ten PET bottles are collected for recycling, a rate that Petcore Europe attributes to the region’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) structures and design for recycling. But disparities between Europe and other regions in PET recycling regulation, infrastructure and pricing mean that European PET recyclers are facing unprecedented challenges. Antonello Ciotti, President of Petcore Europe, has highlighted the issue of increasing PET waste material that enters the recycling market in Europe from outside the region. “In many cases, this material does not comply with the regulatory requirements to which Euro- pean producers must adhere and is distorting the market and prices,” he said. “In Europe you have to have separate collection for food contact materials which stipulates that 95% of what is recycled is already being used for food or drink. Current legislation is not protecting against non-compliant
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material entering the EU market, and this is creating an unlevel playing field. A proper chain of custody is urgently needed to ensure that imported recycled PET is compliant with EU regulation.” Ciotti also criticised the inconsistencies that arise
from different EU legislation. “The EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP), which entered into force on 1 January this year, requires PET bottles on the EU market to contain a minimum of 25% recycled content,” he said. “However, the SUP is a Directive which targets the 27 EU member states who are currently all taking a different approach to the way they calculate the 25% [with] only the large brand owners meeting the target. Meanwhile, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) which requires that by 2029, brand owners must ensure that their production sites meet the target of minimum 25% recycled content across all PET bottle sizes from 250 ml to 2 l, is a regulation so has
Main image: Swiss company DePoly’s patented technology breaks down PET waste feedstock into PTA and MEG
March/April 2025 | PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD 31
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