World’s first 100% recycled PET packaging now being served
Made solely from old food packaging trays, the product represents a major milestone in material circularity.
Huge steps have been made over the past decade in this area, with food trays utilising more and more recycled resources.
However, European packaging specialist Klöckner Pentaplast [kp] has successfully developed the first to be full formed from old products. The supply chain has now been certified by RecyClass, a watermark considered to guarantee accountability and traceability.
‘This achievement is a major breakthrough in the packaging industry, and perfectly demonstrates what is possible with the right combination of expertise and technology,’ said Thomas Kure Jakobsen, President, Food Packaging at kp. ‘Most rPET in the material loop comes from plastic bottles, of which just 30% goes into food packaging trays, and most of this does not end up being recovered.
‘As a result, countless tonnes of rPET tray material are wasted each year. kp Tray2Tray® challenges this by creating a robust closed loop system of PET flake from trays. We work with suppliers to create a separate supply stream of recycled PET from trays, which can be used to create more of the same, rather than being downcycled,’ added Jakobsen. ‘We’re not just looking to move the needle on plastic tray sustainability; we’re aiming to begin the next era.’
Earlier this year, Environment Journal published a feature on recycling strategies organisations must be aware of in 2024. Last year, we reported on how UK local authority landfill rates were once again rising as recycling began to plateau.
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Image: Klöckner Pentaplast