PETCORE EUROPE has launched a new initiative to bring stakeholders across the PET value chain together and improve the way food-contact substances are monitored. The programme aims to strengthen the evidence available for assessing food safety and protecting human health.
The European PET value-chain association developed GeNi in partnership with KÖR to address inconsistencies in the testing and reporting of food-contact substances. The initiative is designed to create a more coherent approach across an industry where laboratories currently apply different methods.
For food and beverage manufacturers that rely on PET packaging, GeNi could offer clearer insight into the substances found in packaging materials and recycled PET. It may also help companies apply more consistent risk-assessment processes as food manufacturing trends and food and drink packaging requirements continue to evolve.
Creating a common data foundation
PETCORE EUROPE reports that no international standards currently govern this form of testing. As a result, laboratories can follow varying procedures and use different analytical techniques.
Because organisations have often generated results independently, the industry has lacked a unified view of the substances moving through the PET value chain. This fragmented picture can make it more difficult to compare findings and assess potential risks.
GeNi will provide a neutral, centralised platform for interlaboratory data. By consolidating test results, the system is expected to support performance benchmarking, highlight effective practices and enable comparisons between testing methodologies.
However, the initiative is intended to achieve more than technical alignment. PETCORE EUROPE views greater consistency as a way to build the robust evidence required for better-informed food safety decisions and to support developments in food processing technology.
Supporting the use of recycled PET
The launch comes as manufacturers increase recycled content in packaging and regulators, consumers and non-governmental organisations pay closer attention to substances present in plastics.
Companies using recycled PET for food and drink packaging need a clear understanding of material composition and the possible risks associated with materials passing through the recycling cycle. This knowledge is essential for maintaining food-contact compliance and responding effectively to changing food and drink regulations.
PETCORE EUROPE notes that hundreds of substances used in plastics are now receiving increased scrutiny. Meanwhile, higher recycled-content targets are making traceability and reliable risk assessment more important throughout the supply chain.
A shared data resource could help stakeholders detect emerging concerns sooner, rather than depending solely on disconnected testing programmes conducted by individual businesses or laboratories.
The need for this approach is particularly apparent as Europe expands its PET recycling infrastructure. Previous industry figures indicated that approximately 1.4 million tonnes of European PET recycling capacity was allocated to food-contact applications, illustrating the substantial volume of material being returned to packaging markets.
Uniting participants across the PET chain
GeNi is intended to serve the wider industry instead of functioning as a private resource for individual laboratories or companies.
Its network will bring together laboratories, technical specialists, brand owners and recyclers. PETCORE EUROPE will oversee industry coordination, while KÖR will manage the collection, anonymisation and evaluation of the submitted testing information.
Raphaël Jaumotte of PETCORE EUROPE said the initiative would give the industry a more complete understanding of the substances present throughout the PET value chain and help identify possible risks at an earlier stage.
“At KÖR, we believe that data should be a bridge, not a barrier,” added Bernd Schwarz, chief chemical officer at KÖR, describing GeNi as a way to turn fragmented testing data into a collective understanding of packaging composition and the actions that may be required.
Moving towards earlier action
For PET producers, recyclers and food and beverage companies, GeNi’s potential value extends beyond laboratory analysis. A more connected evidence base could help identify developing concerns sooner, make test results easier to compare and strengthen decision-making around food-contact safety.
PETCORE EUROPE aims to use collective testing information to generate proactive insight instead of waiting for regulators to flag a problem. The association believes this collaborative, science-led model can reinforce food safety and support human health across the PET value chain.
The initiative also reflects wider food and beverage industry trends, including growing demand for food and drink sustainability, stronger supply-chain transparency and evidence-based food and drink marketing. As food and drink consumer trends continue to influence packaging choices, and food distribution trends increase the need for dependable compliance information, shared scientific data could become an increasingly important part of food and drink industry innovation.