Sidel has opened a new hub dedicated to PET recycling. At its unique small-scale PET recycling pilot line in Octeville, France, the company will develop its understanding of PET recycling with the aim of giving comprehensive support to the market as it switches to greater use of recycled PET.

Sidel stated that PET is proven to be recyclable and is the only food-safe bottle-to-bottle recycled material, but the market has yet to see the production of standardized r-PET resin grade in high quantities. And achieving this could facilitate the market conversion from virgin PET to r-PET.

The unique small-scale PET recycling line will allow the company to develop advanced knowledge about the recycling of food-contact PET bottles, and will also empower Sidel in shaping the packaging solutions of tomorrow.

As Sidel packaging experts assess the impact of additives and primary packaging materials on r-PET resin the facility is expected to become an important reference for raw material producers, recyclers and recycling regulatory organizations.

Specifically, Sidel’s new line will take raw material from industrial partners such as sorting facilities, recyclers and brand owners. It will then recreate and study all aspects of the process from bales to flakes including pellets ready to be injected into preform, injection and blow molding.

The company will give the packaging industry the opportunity to access a fully equipped pilot line. This line covers every step of the recycling process: from washing, drying and pellet extrusion, to solid-state polymerization, including dedicated process and laboratory controls at every step.

The line, which has a holistic bottle-to-bottle approach, is one of a range of services that Sidel is establishing under the name RePETable services.