In an article published on February 15, 2019, news provider Plastics News Europe (PNE) discussed a three year endorsement received by industry association Petcore Europe to help improve the recyclability of household and personal care product polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles wrapped in a sleeve. The endorsement was issued by the European PET Bottle Platform (EBPB), which is a “voluntary industry initiative that provides PET bottle design guidelines for recycling and evaluates PET bottle packaging solutions.” PET bottles wrapped in a sleeve can complicate the recycling process if the sleeve is not removed.
Under the endorsement, the sleeves must have double perforations to be easily identified and removed by consumers as well as include a standardized message asking consumers to remove the sleeve. Only transparent/light-blue PET bottles may be used. Petcore Europe writes that “the three-year period will be used to assess the packaging industry commitment in adopting the solution and to measure consumer engagement in removing the sleeves.”
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PNE (February 14, 2019). “PET sleeves receive temporary recyclability approval.”
Petcore Europe (February 14, 2019). “Recyclability of household and personal care PET bottles – perforated sleeves approved.”
EPBP (January 23, 2019). “Conditional interim endorsement for perforated, tear off full body sleeves for personal and household care PET bottles.”
