June 13, 2025 –
Belgium’s Circular Economy Pioneer Sets New Standard in Food-Grade PET Recycling
AsiaMB reports from the color masterbatch industry perspective on Filao Plant’s groundbreaking achievements in advanced PET recycling. This state-of-the-art facility has revolutionized plastic circularity in Europe since its 2023 launch, processing an impressive 40,000 tons of post-consumer PET bottles annually – equivalent to 70% of Belgium’s total collection.
The joint venture between Sources ALMA and Veolia combines beverage industry expertise with cutting-edge recycling technology. At its core lies Krones Group’s MetaPure W-PET system, which transforms discarded bottles back into premium food-contact material. “Our closed-loop ‘bottle-to-bottle’ system delivers a 3-ton carbon reduction per ton of rPET produced,” explains Plant Director Mélanie Gregoire, highlighting the environmental benefits.
Key technological breakthroughs include:
• Advanced laser detection systems for aluminum removal (critical for food-grade purity)
• Multi-stage washing and purification process achieving <10ppm contamination levels
• Energy-efficient drying and sorting technologies
• Closed-loop water systems using just 1.5L per kg of rPET output
The facility’s sustainability credentials extend beyond material recovery:
• 12,000m² rooftop solar array supplying 20% of power needs
• Zero wastewater discharge through complete treatment and reuse
• Production capacity optimized for 24/7 operation with 98% uptime
Already supplying Sources ALMA’s 50 European production sites, Filao’s success comes at a pivotal moment. The plant not only meets but exceeds EU recycling targets, achieving 2030 standards five years early. This positions Belgium as a leader in implementing the EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive.
For masterbatch producers and plastic converters, Filao demonstrates the commercial viability of high-quality recycled materials. Its technical achievements prove that food-grade rPET can match virgin material performance – a crucial development as brand owners demand more sustainable packaging solutions.
Krones Recycling GmbH’s project lead noted: “Filao represents a replicable model for global markets. The one-year construction timeline shows rapid deployment is possible.” With similar facilities already planned in three other European countries, this Belgian success story may soon transform plastic recycling across the continent.