In search of carbon neutrality, the packaging industry is in the midst of a transition period to replace virgin PET with recycled PET. Sidel is committed to moving to this circular packaging solution, making r-PET more widely available. Our own small-scale PET recycling line allows Sidel to develop advanced knowledge in the recycling of food contact PET bottles. The facility will be an important reference for raw material producers, recyclers and recycling regulators as Sidel’s packaging experts evaluate the impact of additives and primary packaging materials on r-PET resin. The line will allow Seidel to further develop his unique knowledge, ideas and innovative packaging solutions.
“There is a big move towards recycled PET, but demand is outstripping supply,” said Naima Boutroy, global packaging expert at Sidel. “The market still has a lot to learn and we can provide valuable insights. There is variation in grades of recycled PET resin and standardization is still developing. This must be addressed in order to create a brand.Our line tests the recyclability of used PET bottles from a variety of raw materials including additives and caps, labels, inks and adhesives. We will work with traditional Sidel customers such as owners, converters and co-packers, as well as other suppliers such as raw material producers, recyclers and regulatory bodies to enable scale-up of r-PET capacity. You can also check if the is compliant with bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
Sidel’s new line receives raw materials from industrial partners such as sorting facilities, recyclers and brand owners. All aspects of the bale-to-flake process are then replicated and studied. This includes pellets ready for injection into preforms, injection molding and blow molding.
Sidel offers the packaging industry the opportunity to access a fully equipped pilot line. The line covers all steps of the recycling process from washing, drying and pellet extrusion to solid state polymerization and includes dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step.
Sidel’s investment in the r-PET pilot line is unparalleled in the packaging industry and empowers Sidel in shaping tomorrow’s packaging solutions. With a holistic bottle-to-bottle approach, the line is just one in a series of services that Sidel has established under the name of his RePETable™ service. The service leverages Sidel’s 40+ years of blowing and packaging expertise to provide r -Support brand owners and converters in the production of PET bottles.
