Despite the fact that PET is by far the largest collected and recycled polymer – offi cial statistics from ICIS show that in 2022, an average of 75% of PET bottles in Europe were collected - PET is also the material that EU institutions are watching most closely. We have the SUP (Single Use Plastics) Directive, which is still to be fully implemented, and now the PPWD (Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive), which is chang ing the SUP targets that have not yet been achieved – and also redefi ning some of them.

The average per EU member state should be 25% recycled PET in each bottle – but under the PPWD, the target has been increased to 30%. We are now talking to each brand individually; for instance, Coca Cola has different sites, and each site must reach the 30% target. Even by bottle size – eg. in any given Coca Cola location, the 500 ml bottle has to contain 30% recycled content. To read entire interview given by Antonello Ciotti to PET Planet Magazine, please check this link.