The PLASTIC SENSE Foundation publishes the guidelines to ensure the recyclability of thermoformed PET trays

The main objective of the PLASTIC SENSE FOUNDATION is to promote the use and recycling of the thermoformed PET tray, ensuring transparency in the incorporation of recycled PET from the manufacturing and consumption processes of these containers through the ECOSENSE certification.

Ensuring thermoformed PET tray recyclability is a key factor to close the loop in compliance with the European Commission’s Strategy for plastics, which not only sets ambitious objectives for the incorporation of recycled material into new products, but also that packaging will be 100% recyclable in a cost-effective way.

For this reason, the PLASTIC SENSE FOUNDATION publishes the GUIDELINES TO ENSURE THE RECYCLABILITY OF THE THERMOFORMED PET TRAY, which have been drawn up in collaboration with the main agents involved in their recycling and reintroduction into the value chain. These guidelines will enable to consolidate and ensure the recycling of post-consumer waste in Europe.

The GUIDELINES are an easy tool to be used and applied by food packers, which have the responsibility and last word in what containers bring to the market. As these decisions are key, the PLASTIC SENSE FOUNDATION works hard to facilitate the food packers’ decision-making. In this regard, the GUIDELINES are fully aligned with the guidelines published by Petcore and Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE), defined within the PET Thermoforming Working Group in 2018

Following these GUIDELINES, the PLASTIC SENSE FOUNDATION is developing a new certification procedure, called RETRAY, that is expected to be available for packers in 2020. RETRAY has the objective of verifying compliance with the recyclability requirements of the container and, optionally, communicating the content of recycled material within the thermoformed PET tray to the final consumer.

Mercedes Gómez Paniagua

MANAGING DIRECTOR