European PET Bottle Platform Joins CEN to Enhance Recycling Standards
The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) has taken a strategic role as a liaison organization within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). This appointment is aimed at advancing the circular economy for PET bottles by contributing to the development of recycling standards.
Argiris Dabanlis, Technical Manager of EPBP, emphasized the significance of this role, noting that it recognizes EPBP’s efforts in promoting PET bottle circularity in Europe. He stated, “This liaison role is an important recognition of EPBP’s contribution to advancing PET bottle circularity in Europe. It is a great opportunity for EPBP to bring its extensive expertise to CEN’s discussions on packaging circularity and continue helping companies in the PET bottle industry to design PET bottles for recycling on the path to circularity.”
The EPBP aims to improve the recyclability and circularity of PET bottles through its work with CEN, focusing on high-quality recycling processes essential for bottle-to-bottle recycling. This comes in the context of the recently adopted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which requires the European Commission to consider standards developed by European standardization organizations when establishing future recycling design criteria.
By providing PET bottle design guidelines for recycling, EPBP offers independent and confidential evaluations of the recyclability of new packaging solutions during their R&D phase. This allows producers to make necessary adjustments to mitigate recycling challenges. Additionally, EPBP facilitates understanding of the impact of new PET bottle innovations on recycling processes.
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) is an association comprising the National Standardization Bodies of 34 European countries. It provides a platform for developing European Standards related to various products, materials, services, and processes. CEN’s support is crucial in the process of enhancing recycling standards and ensuring that used PET bottles are effectively transformed into new ones.
EPBP’s initiative is supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE, and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment to accelerating the transition to a full circular economy for PET bottles in Europe.
