The EuPR Launches European PET Bottle Platform

The European Plastics Recyclers (EuPR) has announced the launch of the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP). Click here to view the platform

The EPBP was created to offer a service to the packaging industry by assessing new PET bottle formats entering the European plastics recycling stream, according to the press release.

Supporters expect that this new front-end evaluation process will aid the ongoing move towards a more sustainable PET recycling industry in Europe.

The EPBP consists of a number of technical experts in the field of PET production, design and recycling, and together, they aim to provide an objective evaluation of new technologies and an independent assessment on its impact on the PET recycling processes across Europe, the press release says.

The EPBP includes the Alliance for plastic Beverage Containers sustainability (ABC); European Association of Plastic Recycling & Recovery Organizations (EPRO); European Plastics Recyclers (EuPR) and PET containers recycling Europe (Petcore).

The Platform has established several test procedures in order to assess the recycling profile of new packaging technologies, such as barriers, additives, closures, labels, etc. Products that pass the tests should not experience any problems during recycling, the EuPR says.

This expanded Platform is designed to promote the recyclability of PET bottles in the market by:

• Establishing European harmonized guidelines for PET bottles recyclability that will be accepted across the whole value chain.
• Encouraging the industry to test new PET bottle concepts and/or materials before market launch according to the harmonized guidelines.
• Giving advice and recommendations to the different stakeholders.
• Sharing information and knowledge across the whole value chain.

More information is available at www.epro-plasticsrecycling.org/PETbottleplatform/.