January 21, 2025 – European PET Bottle Platform Unveils New Design Guidelines for PET Bottle Recycling
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) has recently released a set of innovative design guidelines tailored for PET bottle recycling. These guidelines categorize PET bottles into three distinct groups based on the compatibility of the materials used in the bottles with Europe’s current recycling processes: fully compatible, partially compatible, and low compatibility.
According to EPBP regulations, the production of food-grade recycled PET (rPET) is currently restricted to using PET containers originally intended for food contact as raw materials, adhering strictly to (EU) No. 10/2011 legislation. Acceptable sources also include PET food containers sourced from municipal waste, food retailers, or other food enterprises, with a provision that non-food-contact PET containers should not exceed 5% of the raw material mix.
EPBP highlights that certain materials, due to their adverse impact on the visual properties of recycled PET such as color and haze, may fail test protocols and be classified differently within the transparent/light blue PET stream or the colored PET stream. To address this, EPBP’s expert panel has developed detailed recycling design guidelines.
AsiaMB has learned that for transparent or light blue PET bottles, the use of clear or light blue PET materials is recommended, with specific barrier layers and additives being acceptable. The use of biodegradable, oxidative, or photodegradable additives and nanocomposites should be avoided. Bottle dimensions also need to conform to specified standards. For closures, seals, and other attachments, materials with a density below 1g/cm3 are advised, while materials with a higher density, metallized materials, and non-removable labels fall into the low compatibility category.
Design recommendations for transparent colored PET bottles and opaque non-white PET bottles have also been outlined, emphasizing the avoidance of dark, fluorescent, or metallic colors, as well as the careful selection of attachment materials. Notably, for opaque white PET bottles, multi-layer or double-layer structures are permitted, provided the outer layer is white.
Furthermore, design suggestions for reusable transparent light blue PET bottles and PET caps mirror those for the aforementioned types, advocating for the use of transparent or light blue PET materials and steering clear of other colors, opacity, fluorescence, or metallic effects.
EPBP’s new guidelines provide clear direction for the design and recycling of PET bottles, marking a significant step towards standardizing and fostering sustainable development within the PET recycling industry.