About this article
rPET is on the rise: many retailers and hospitality businesses are opting for recycled PET as their packaging material. It's commonly used for to-go salads, smoothies, and freshly squeezed orange juice. But what makes rPET such a popular packaging material, and could it be the right choice for your business? We discussed this with Francesco Serreli from Bunzl Retail & Industry.
Recycled PET: food safe, even after recycling
Francesco is the Business Development Manager at Bunzl Retail & Industry in Arnhem. With extensive experience in roles like Buyer and Category Manager, he possesses a wealth of product and material knowledge. “PET and rPET are popular among our clients, especially supermarkets. The beauty of this material is that it is food safe, making it ideal for packaging fresh salads, deli meats, fruits, and pastries. To date, it’s the only plastic that can be used for food packaging after post-consumer recycling in regular waste streams,” he explains.
Verive’s rPET range includes cups with various types of lids, salad bowls, yogurt bowls, bottles, and trays for deli meats. Even the transparent lids of our cardboard salad bowls are made from rPET.
Why do retailers and hospitality entrepreneurs opt for recycled PET?
“Recyclability is a major driver: we supply many mono-material rPET products, like orange juice bottles, that are fully recyclable. Even when rPET is used in a cardboard cake box, consumers can separate it for recycling,” says Francesco. Other reasons why businesses prefer rPET over alternative packaging materials include:
- Contains recycled content, complying with new legislation (scroll down for more information)
- Helps businesses achieve their sustainability goals
- Appeals to the more conscious consumer: sustainability features can be highlighted in communication
Ways to incorporate recycled material in PET products
In plastics, there are roughly two ways to incorporate recycled content into food-safe packaging:
- A-B-A:Â This involves three layers. The inner and outer layers are virgin material, while the middle layer consists of recycled content. It’s more complex to produce but ideal when the recycled content in the middle layer isn’t food-safe certified.
- EFSA certified:Â This allows up to 100% recycled PET usage, as it’s entirely food safe. However, a product made from 100% recycled material presents challenges (weaker quality, milky color), often leading to the addition of some virgin material.
All Verive’s rPET products contain at least 51% recycled material—often much more. Currently, many rPET products on the market contain significantly less recycled content but are still promoted as recycled.
From colored to transparent packaging
A few years ago, supermarkets were filled with colored PET trays, used to make products more visually appealing. “These have been replaced by transparent (recycled) PET packaging. By reducing all those colors to just the transparent variant, it’s much easier for recyclers to process discarded PET packaging into new bottles, trays, and containers,” says Francesco. By using rPET, plastic waste can be reduced, and valuable resources can be utilized for as long as possible.
Complying with packaging legislation with recycled PET
As a retailer or hospitality entrepreneur, you’re likely aware that European and local legislation impacts the packaging materials we use. What does this mean for rPET packaging?
- Since July 2021, all rPET packaging must bear the turtle logo, in accordance with the SUP law.
- PET packaging for food and drink must consist of at least 30% recycled material by 2030 and at least 50% by 2040, according to the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). For disposable PET bottles, a minimum of 65% recycled content is required by 2040, which our bottles already exceed.
For on-site consumption, such as in a restaurant, the legislation promotes reusability. rPET can still be used here if the goals for high-quality recycling are met (applicable in the Netherlands). For take-away, supermarkets, and closed events, rPET remains highly suitable now and in the future.
Keen to start using recycled PET?
Want to learn more about our rPET packaging, receive a no-obligation quote, or place an order? Discover where Verive is available or send a message to info@verive.eu. We look forward to hearing from you.
Jet Kolkman
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