New PET film line launched in Wiesbaden
Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH has put a new PET film line into operation.
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The Society for Packaging Market Research has identified a positive trend in the recycling of plastic packaging. Compared to the previous year, around 5 per cent more packaging was recycled in 2020 and the recycling rate rose to 60.5 per cent. The recycling rate for PET bottles is particularly high.
The recycling rate of PET bottles returned to the deposit machine was almost 98 per cent in 2020. Other types of material such as Papier and aluminium show an upward trend in recycling. In 2020, just under 81.6 per cent of packaging waste was recycled - 0.2 percentage points more than in 2019. According to the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen, targets and concrete plans are needed instead of further bans and, with the Eco Design of Plastic Packaging guidelines, is making an additional contribution to the announced Strategy for sustainable products.
„For the plastics industry, the change that has been initiated also brings New opportunities. After all, plastics are needed more than any other material for the climate-neutral economy, whether as rotor blades for wind turbines or as energy- and resource-saving packaging for food and other products. We are working flat out to close the loops and rethink our products.“
Dr Isabell Schmidt, Managing Director of Circular Economy at IK Industrial Association for Plastic Packaging
Successful examples from practice
In addition to innovation, availability and quality, the question of the cost-effectiveness of recycled materials is increasingly taking centre stage. Because only if the Recycling plastics is economically attractive is, it is also implemented in practice. Therefore, the regulatory framework be designed in such a way that the use of recyclates is possible.
The plastics industry is driving the rethink towards a circular economy in a variety of ways. For example, the company Seufert from the Offenbach district Films made from 100 per cent recycled plastic waste: Eco-R-PET. Bischof + Klein develops Flexible plastic packaging. In the past two years, the film and packaging specialist based in Lengerich has won the German Packaging Award with recyclable packaging.
„We plastics producers are already an important part of the transformation process initiated by the EU Commission's CEAP. The Moving away from the linear consumption of resources has long been a goal of politics, industry and society. arrived. Our industry is driving the rethink towards a circular economy in which we continue to use resources for as long as possible in a variety of ways.“
Ingemar Bühler, Managing Director of the plastics producers' association PlasticsEurope Deutschland
More news on the topic of recycling
High recycling rate for beverage cans in Europe
The recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in Europe rose to over 76% in 2023. The industry sees itself on course for full recycling by 2050.
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Starbucks strengthens cup recycling
Polypropylene cups for cold drinks have received the „Widely Recyclable“ classification.
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AVU criticises lack of recycling incentives
The Alliance Packaging and Environment evaluates the draft for a new Packaging Law Implementation Act.
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VerpackDG: What will change with the new Packaging Act
With the new VerpackDG, the German government is setting the course for the implementation of the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR). From massively expanded approval obligations and binding waste prevention budgets to ambitious recycling quotas from 2028 - find out here what bureaucratic and financial changes your company will face from 12 August 2026.
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Werner & Mertz criticises new packaging law
Werner & Mertz warns that without targeted incentives for high-quality recycling, the circular economy in Germany could be significantly weakened by 2030.
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