PRE releases design-for-recycling guidelines for PET trays

The Europe-based organization Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), based in Brussels, has released guidelines that seek to provide guidelines for recyclers, consumers and retailers that would set the basic principles to create PET trays that could be collected and recycled. The design-for-recycling guidelines include one set of standards for clear thermoforms and another for colored thermoforms.

The PRE, which represents plastics recyclers throughout Europe, has more than 115 member companies. To view the guidelines for both clear and colored PET trays click here.

The PRE notes that the design of PET trays is a first step to develop and grow PET trays recycling. Additionally, the waste stream of 800,000 metric tons must be collected and sorted accordingly to create a dedicated waste stream. The PRE notes that two actions are essential in order to create a real recycling stream for PET trays and allow the specific packaging to help reaching the upcoming EU recycling targets.

To support the success of PET tray recycling, the PRE is calling for the full value chain, including converters, retailers, brand owners and raw material producers to unite to build a PET trays platform in order to start a path to a value chain approach for PET trays similar to EPBP (European PET Bottle Platform).