Working Groups

PETCORE EUROPE: Leading the Way in Polyester Textile Circularity

PETCORE EUROPE, the foremost Brussels-based organization in the PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) value chain, is exceptionally well-positioned to lead the transition toward circularity in polyester textiles. With decades of expertise and a robust infrastructure, PETCORE EUROPE is extending its efforts beyond PET packaging to tackle the challenges of polyester fiber recycling in textiles.

1. Established Infrastructure and Advanced & Mechanical Recycling Technologies

• A Legacy of Expertise: Since its founding in 1993, PETCORE EUROPE has become widely recognized for its extensive experience in the collection, sorting, and recycling of PET, particularly for packaging applications. This well-established infrastructure is now being adapted to address similar challenges in the textile industry, where PET is used in the form of polyester fibers.

• Leading-Edge Recycling Solutions: PETCORE EUROPE is at the forefront of advanced & mechanical recycling technologies, supported by over 20 technology providers. These innovations are being tailored to manage polyester textiles, enabling the efficient recycling of used garments into high-quality recycled fibers that can be reintroduced into the production cycle.

2. Comprehensive Value Chain Engagement and Commitment to Sustainability

• Broad Collaboration Across the Value Chain: PETCORE EUROPE has built strong partnerships with packaging stakeholders across the entire PET value chain, including producers, recyclers, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, major packaging brands, and end-users. This collaborative network is now expanding to include textile stakeholders, fashion brands, and industry associations, paving the way for a unified approach to textile circularity.

• Integrated Circularity Approach: PETCORE EUROPE’s active involvement in every stage of the PET product lifecycle—from production to recycling—makes it well-equipped to promote circular practices in textiles. By ensuring alignment between design, collection, and recycling processes, Petcore Europe maximizes the potential for circularity in polyester-based products.

• Commitment to Environmental Sustainability: As a key advocate for reducing the environmental impact of PET products, Petcore Europe is extending from packaging  this commitment to the textile industry, aiming to significantly reduce textile waste and increase the use of recycled polyester.

• Innovation and Research: With a strong focus on innovation in recycling technologies, PETCORE EUROPE is achieving groundbreaking advancements in textile recycling, such as: 
• •  Depolymerization processes that can handle complex textile compositions, including mixed fiber content. 
  • Last generation Mechanical recycling processes

3. Influence in Policy and Industry Standards

• Policy Leadership: Petcore Europe plays a pivotal role in shaping European policies and regulations related to PET recycling. This expertise is now being leveraged to advocate for circularity in polyester textiles, including the promotion of EPR schemes and mandatory recycled content in textile products. PETCORE EUROPE's contributions to setting up Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) demonstrate its ability to enhance recycling rates, reduce litter, and achieve economies of scale.

• Standardization and Best Practices: By developing industry-wide recycling guidelines, standards, and best practices for PET packaging, PETCORE EUROPE ensures efficient, high-quality recycling processes. These standards are now being elaborated for the textile industry, helping to create consistent quality benchmarks and support the adoption of circular practices.

4. Cross-Sector Synergies and Circular Economy Integration

• Material Synergies Between Packaging and Textiles: PET is a common material used in both packaging and textiles, and PETCORE EUROPE’s expertise in PET recycling creates valuable synergies between these two sectors. Technologies initially developed for recycling PET bottles are now being adapted to recycle polyester textiles, resulting in economies of scale and improved recycling efficiency.

• Circular Economy Leadership: As a key driver of the circular economy for PET packaging, PETCORE EUROPE aims to serve as a model for the textile industry, aligning with the EU Textile Strategy. The organization is well-positioned to integrate circular principles into textile manufacturing, encouraging a more sustainable and holistic approach to resource efficiency across multiple sectors.

Conclusion

With its extensive experience in PET recycling, strong industry collaborations, and dedication to sustainability, PETCORE EUROPE is poised to lead the effort toward circularity in the polyester textile industry. By expanding its focus from packaging to textiles, PETCORE EUROPE is playing a crucial role in creating a more sustainable and circular future for polyester-based products, helping to reduce waste and promote the use of recycled materials in the fashion and textile sectors.

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PETCORE EUROPE is pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Industry Group (SIG) for PET white light barrier applications.

Currently, in some countries we notice a switch from HDPE to PET packaging for dairy products. There is a potential for other markets to follow. This potential switch from HDPE and also PS to PET could justify separate recycling streams. The Circular Plastics Alliance and Essential Requirements of Packaging require full recyclability, deadlines are tight and it is time to move as soon as possible in the right direction to prove a concept of circularity.

As a result of this PETCORE EUROPE'S plan is to launch the SIG to convince EPRs as well as European and National Policymakers by developing technical guidelines to ensure recyclability, business models and closed stream proposals.

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PETCORE EUROPE is creating a new BOPET WG that will:

1. Build awareness of the positive role that BOPET films currently play in the flexible packaging industry;
2. Develop Mono PET pouches as a circular alternative to other mono material structures;
3. Demonstrate that flexible PET structures are the gold standard in terms of material efficiency, processing efficiency and high yield closed loop recycling;
4. Develop test protocols to evaluate best in class compatibility in both mechanical and monomer recycling streams;
5. Work with other stakeholders to analyse the necessary conditions and create a collection and recycling stream for BOPET;   
6. Work with the thermoforms evaluation platform to establish recyclability assessment of BOPET Films used in packaging.

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PETCORE EUROPE has started a Labels working group in 2021.

It focuses on recyclability of labels and how labels can improve recyclability of the bottles (identification and sorting).

Several task forces have been created to address the recyclability of the different types of existing labels.

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PETCORE Europe Technical Committee organizes and coordinates the activities of the working groups.

The technical committee is composed of the chairs of the working groups and holds 2 closed meetings a year.

A technical committee forum is held once a year for all the PETCORE Europe members to keep the community aware of the strategic orientations and key results.

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This working group is looking at the environmental performance of PET and rPET. Main objective is to supply our members with the latest up to date and reliable data on LCA, PEF and other environmental indicators. Also to give guidance on environmental claims.

This group aims also at determining the key factors for the PET industry to improve it’s environmental performance.

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The Communications Working Group manages the Communications Campaign which aims to raise awareness among policy-makers and the general public around the many qualities of PET as a packaging material of choice.

The WG meetings are built around the Core Group of the Campaign that meets every two weeks and which discusses and manages the practical as well as the general aspects of the Campaign.

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