November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

Used PET trays are not waste, they are valuable feedstocks

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

1 Information provided by NAPCOR from the studies Cradle-to-resin life cycle analysis of polyethylene terephthalate resin (March 2020) and Life cycle impacts for post-consumer recycled resins: PET, HDPE, and PP (December 2018). All data sources may be found on this link.
November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

Used PET trays are not waste, they are valuable feedstocks

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

Used PET trays are not waste, they are valuable feedstocks

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

Used PET trays are not waste, they are valuable feedstocks

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

Used PET trays are not waste, they are valuable feedstocks

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.

November, 2023

With sustainability and circularity being at the forefront of our industry’s concerns, efficient and comprehensive plastic recycling needs to be emphasised and implemented worldwide. There has been an emphasis on the recycling of PET bottles for years, but PET tray recycling needs to be a top priority if we want to move closer towards closing the PET loop.

PET trays can be divided into two groups: monolayer and multilayer. The monolayer trays are made of pure PET, whereas multilayer trays consist of PET and other polymers that form a secure barrier against oxygen and help extend the shelf-life of products. The tricky part of tray-to-tray recycling is that because of the wide range of different types of trays in circulation, the quality and contents of the regrind varies greatly. The good news is that there are more and more companies with solutions for multilayer recycling, such as Sulayr and Repetco, efficiently delaminating the PE layer from the PET layer, and recycling both materials seperately.

Currently in parts of Europe, PET trays are collected via the Dual System, where trays are sorted into two groups. According to Sesotec, they are first separated into mixed PET with different ratios of transparent PET bottles and other articles made of PET, namely trays. This mixed PET fraction is then resorted, where trays are mainly rejected. The second fraction consists mainly of PET trays and they are recycled for other uses.

In order to expand this tray-to-tray initiative worldwide, all players in the value chain must take action. Investments in recycling plants are necessary to increase the efficiency of tray-to-tray recycling. Processors must reduce their use of foreign materials in trays to increase recyclability.  Recycling companies need to sort out the shells in a more targeted manner and improve the washing and treatment process.