Sidel is launching its new RePETable offer, a portfolio of services it says is designed to help the packaging industry make an efficient transition to rPET bottle production, while offering support to improve the circularity of primary packaging.
Sidel says it aims to facilitate a smooth and efficient market switch to recycled PET by establishing a “no fear one-stop shop” for rPET – the RePETable offer. The company claims these service solutions will enable customers to adopt up to 100 per cent rPET without impacting bottle production. Sidel points out it can also offer support to the industry to develop innovative and more sustainable primary packaging materials that are designed for recycling.
“To reach the same level of performance as virgin PET, rPET bottle production process needs to be adapted to suit the resin used,” said Jérôme Neveu, packaging & moulds product manager at Sidel. “Therefore, our RePETable offer is made of solutions to address the challenges associated with rPET bottle production securing bottle mechanical resistance with optimum material stretchability and bottle shaping.”
Sidel offers rPET-ready features with packaging services and mould solutions, equipment upgrades and process support which achieve consistent, high production performance and bottle quality, even with up to 100 per cent rPET. The blowing process is optimised to manage challenges associated with rPET grades and out-of-spec rPET is identified and rejected before processing.
Sidel’s investment in its small-scale recycling pilot line in France is supporting primary packaging suppliers in innovating with new materials for closure, sleeve, glue, label, additives, colouring and any other primary packaging material.
The services delivered through this pilot line ensure primary packaging recycling process efficiency, resin quality, and rPET bottle performance, the company says. Sidel is using this line to recreate every step of the recycling process from washing, drying and pellet extrusion to crystallisation and Solid State Polymerisation, including dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step. Sidel packaging and equipment experts study all aspects of the process from post-consumer PET bales to flakes, including pellets ready to be injected into preform up to rPET bottle blow moulding and industrialisation.
As the demand for rPET continues to rise, driven by regulations across the world and brands’ commitment to packaging circularity, the cost of rPET is fluctuating and remaining higher than that of virgin PET. Sidel claims its packaging optimisation services for bottle weight reduction help to significantly offset rPET resin costs.
With the RePETable offer, Sidel is committed to using its comprehensive expertise to create a virtuous closed-loop process for food-grade rPET bottles.
“While PET is already fully compliant with the circular economy compared to other plastic packaging materials, combining lightweight and recycled PET is the fastest way to reach carbon neutrality,” said Naima Boutroy, packaging expert global at Sidel. “Lifecycle analysis shows that PET already has the best carbon footprint of all the packaging materials currently available. Creating a robust recycling loop to achieve full circularity at scale will make PET an even more sustainable choice.”
