News & Events

On 30 May 2017, the final Polymark review meeting took place at the Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission. The Polymark Consortium comprising all partners met with the REA project officer and the technical expert.

Petcore Europe, the Brussels based association representing the complete PET value chain in Europe, welcomes eight new members in 2017: Hordijk, Sukano, Pellenc ST, M&G, SUEZ, Plastipak, Sidel and L’Oréal.

“Gaining additional support from these eight leaders in their respective market sectors is a real asset for Petcore Europe,” outlines Christian Crépet, Executive Director of Petcore Europe. “It clearly reflects how our association aligns the complete PET value chain in Europe in order to work together and speak with one voice."

On 15 March, Petcore Europe and the European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW) - on behalf of the Polymark consortium - invited to a Workshop & Training in Brussels. More than 80 experts from the PET value chain, brand owners and researchers gained an insight into this European project that has developed a new technology enabling the identification and sorting of polymers, focusing on PET as a start, in the high-value plastics waste stream.

“We believe that sensor-based sorting technologies hold a key to enabling circular economy for plastics, providing high-grade sorting and boosting recycling quality and yield. Aside from the technical progress made during the Polymark project, we have seen how the entire value chain has embraced marker-based sorting as a crucial next step in improving plastics recycling", explained consortium partner An Vossen from EPRO in the introduction video of the Polymark project.

On 31 March 2017, Patrick Peuch steps down from his role as Executive Director at Petcore Europe. Christian Crépet has been appointed as his successor by the Petcore Europe Board.

"It has been a real pleasure for me to run Petcore Europe for the last four years since the start. With the continuous trust, support and contribution of our members, we have grown Petcore Europe to a reference model and a well-respected European organisation, acknowledging our open-minded approach and pro-active activities, our partnerships and relationships. It is now time for me to step down and to thank you all, and to express my best wishes to my successor," outlined Patrick Peuch during the Annual General Meeting of Petcore Europe.

Following an ODR Workshop on Opaque and Difficult to Recycle PET Packaging in Brussels, Petcore Europe has launched a call for industry representatives to join its ODR Working Group. As PET is now expanding beyond transparent bottles and thermoforms into new applications such as milk and home care containers, Petcore Europe is keen to facilitate a dialogue across the value chain to find sustainable solutions for their recycling ability and end markets for such recycled PET.

The Working Group therefore is organised according to the following six task forces:

Gain an insight in this EU-funded project for a new technology enabling the identification and sorting of polymers, including PET, in the high-value plastics waste stream:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeJsW1Laab0&t=3s

More information: www.polymark.org

On 1 February 2017, 160 delegates from the entire PET value chain from Europe and beyond convened in Brussels for the annual Petcore Europe Conference 2017.

Under the theme “PET 2020 – The future of the PET industry”, the complete industry - from PET resin producers, masterbatch producers, packaging designers and manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, label producers to major brand owners, EPR schemes, waste management organisations, recyclers, waste sorting and recycling machinery manufacturers - presented and shared their visions on the future of PET and the PET industry.

Workshop Holy Grail_invitation.pdf

The workshop will take place on 4 April 2017 in Brussels (Bluepoint Conference Center) and is open to the entire industry to participate. Registration is however necessary: please register by simply sending an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (deadline March 15th).

The intention of this workshop is to invite all stakeholders (brand owners, waste manufacturers, recyclers, packaging component producers, resin producers associations, ...) to

The three European organisations Petcore Europe, UNESDA - Soft Drinks Europe and EFBW - European Federation of Bottled Water have signed a non-disclosure agreement to work together as an integrated bottle value chain from virgin PET to preforms, bottles and r-PET.

On 31 January 2017, Petcore Europe held its Annual General Meeting in Brussels during which the members elected a new Board.