News

Last month an EuPR Working Group launched a project with the aim of creating a quality classification scheme for recycled PET. We ask whether this would be beneficial to the plastics industry in the UK

Chris Dow
Managing director
Closed Loop Recycling

YES

It is critical to define the product that is being priced to ensure we are comparing the same quality and specification. I would welcome a clear, user-friendly specification and I believe that EuPR is best placed to create this.

The success of the plastic waste industry in the UK is about turning the vicious circle of waste into a virtual circle of useful recycled product. To create a robust and sustainable industry, we all need to be competing on a level playing field. Once this standard is in place, perhaps we can start talking about more uniformity in collection systems that continue to limit investment in the UK’s urgently required infrastructure development.

Shane Monkman
Packaging buyer
Asda

NO

EU legislation covering food contact materials is quite simple. To be classed and sold as ‘post-consumer’ plastics they have to comply with EN ISO 14021. Industrial or in-house regrind is not included.

Plastics with or without recycled content for food contact have to comply with EU 1935/2004.

Source certified post-consumer plastics collected for re-use have to be washed using a ‘superclean’ process that has been approved to EU282/2008.

Most commercial pre-form trays or sheets for form-fill-seal manufacturers are a mix of food and non-food products. Rather than have a mix-up with grades, all plastics should subscribe to one benchmark.

In the UK, a handful of plastics suppliers have attained the EU282/2008 standard. Entrants to this market will be expected to show source certification proving all their recycled products are of this single standard.

David Syrett
Chair
Technical Packaging Committee, British Soft Drinks Association

YES

The Soft Drinks Industry supports the call for the development of standards for the grades and processes involved in the generation of rPET.

A number of standards already exist covering various elements of PET packaging and its uses, including specifications for different grades of virgin PET.

The market for rPET is developing rapidly as industry strives to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. The development of standards for rPET in this growing marketplace would facilitate a more consistent, fair and transparent market for those who are seeking to purchase rPET.

Importantly, it would also help provide assurance to companies thinking of replacing virgin PET with recycled material and would enable the packaging industry to further improve its environmental performance.

Tony Waters
Managing director
Solo Cup Europe

YES

We would welcome the proposal. It would help customers understand what they are buying in the way of rPET products from us. It would also ensure a price that reflects a certain standard, type and location of rPET, which is critical to companies such as ours being able to make informed and competitive decisions.

Simply stating a price without saying if it is in washed, unwashed or food grade is not helpful.

However, to be successful the scheme must be administered diligently or credibility will be lost.

Having a standard would not necessarily help stimulate the supply of rPET, but it would better define the product that is available.