June 12, 2025 –
AsiaMB Exclusive: Europe’s PET Recycling Revolution Reaches New Heights with Belgian Mega-Facility
Belgium has entered a new era of circular economy with the inauguration of its first state-of-the-art PET bottle recycling plant in Filao. The joint venture between bottled water leader Sources ALMA and environmental services giant Veolia represents a €50 million investment in sustainable packaging solutions.
What sets this facility apart is its groundbreaking integration of German technology group Krones’ MetaPure W-PET system, capable of transforming 40,000 metric tons of post-consumer PET bottles annually into food-grade recycled material. The plant’s output alone accounts for 70% of Belgium’s total PET recycling capacity.
“Through 14-stage purification and advanced sorting technologies, we’re achieving purity levels that exceed EU food contact standards,” explained plant director Mélanie Gregoire during the facility tour. The rPET flakes produced will supply Sources ALMA’s 50 bottling plants across Europe, enabling bottle production with higher recycled content than regulatory requirements.
Key sustainability achievements include:
• 3:1 carbon reduction ratio compared to virgin PET production
• 12,000 sqm solar panel array covering 20% of energy needs
• Industry-leading water efficiency at 1.5L per kg of rPET
For the masterbatch industry, this development signals growing availability of high-quality recycled PET feedstock. “Consistent rPET supply is crucial for developing specialized color solutions in recycled applications,” noted AsiaMB’s European correspondent.
The Filao plant’s rapid 12-month construction timeline demonstrates Krones’ turnkey project expertise. As the third in Sources ALMA’s recycling network, it provides a scalable model for meeting the EU’s ambitious 2030 recycled content targets. Industry analysts predict this will accelerate adoption of recycled-content masterbatches across food packaging applications.
AsiaMB will continue tracking how this facility influences rPET availability and pricing dynamics in the European masterbatch market.