Beverage packaging solution specialist Sidel has opened a new hub dedicated to PET recycling at its small-scale PET recycling pilot line in Octeville, France.
Through the hub, Sidel will develop advanced knowledge about the recycling of food-contact PET bottles, with the aim of giving comprehensive support to the market as it switches to greater use of recycled PET.
As Sidel packaging experts assess the impact of additives and primary packaging materials on rPET resin, the facility will become an important reference for raw material producers, recyclers and recycling regulatory organisations.
The line will also enable Sidel to further develop its own knowledge, ideas and innovative packaging solutions.
According to Naima Boutroy, Sidel’s global packaging expert, demand for rPET is increasing and the market is developing as brand owners seek carbon neutral solutions.
“There is a big move towards rPET, but demand is outstripping supply. The market still has a lot to learn, and we can provide valuable insights. There is a variability in rPET resin grades, and standardisation is still in development,” explained Boutroy.
“We need to address this to create the best possible finished bottles. Our line will test the recyclability of post-consumer PET bottles from different feed stocks, including additives and caps, as well as labels, inks and glue.
“We will be working with traditional Sidel customers, such as brand owners, converters and co-packers, as well as other suppliers like raw material producers, recyclers and regulatory organisations, to enable the scaling-up of rPET capacity. We can also check any innovations comply with bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
The new line will take raw material from industrial partners, then will recreate and study all aspects of the process – from bales to flakes, including pellets ready to be injected into pre-form, injection and blow-moulding.
Sidel will give the packaging industry the opportunity to access a fully-equipped pilot line, which covers every step of the recycling process – from washing, drying and pellet extrusion, to solid-state polymerisation, including dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step.
The company said its investment in the rPET pilot line will help empower it in shaping the packaging solutions of tomorrow.
The line is just one of a range of services that Sidel is establishing under the name RePETable services.
The services will draw upon Sidel’s 40+ years of blowing and packaging expertise to support brand owners and converters in producing rPET bottles through line upgrade solutions, packaging optimisation, blowing process qualification, troubleshooting, and rPET processing training.
