In the realm of supermarket shopping, the beverage tray is a familiar and practical tool known for its ability to facilitate the quick and efficient retrieval of beverage bottles. Renowned for its space-saving qualities, the beverage tray not only streamlines the transport of bottles but also spares supermarket employees the laborious task of shelving them. Rauch Fruchtsäfte, in pursuit of sustainability, has taken a monumental step by opting to employ beverage trays constructed from 70% recycled PET material, solidifying the company’s commitment to eco-conscious practices in food and drink packaging.
The project involved the meticulous sorting, shredding, and washing of post-consumer materials to produce r-PET flakes, which were then transformed into PET film and thermoformed into r-PET trays by the Greiner Packaging business unit Greiner Assistec. These recycled trays, composed of 70% recycled material, boast quality equal to that of trays fashioned from new material, highlighting their suitability for use in food and drink sustainable packaging.
Furthermore, the project showcases the viability of establishing alternative PET value streams, as the r-PET flakes are derived from materials distinct from PET beverage bottles, such as cups, tubs, and trays. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential for recycling other PET packaging from the yellow bag, with the ultimate goal of instituting large-scale recycling streams for sustainable packaging in food and drink industry.
For Rauch Fruchtsäfte, the adoption of r-PET material represents not only a commitment to sustainability but also an opportunity to promote a tray-to-tray cycle. According to Hanno Mandl, purchasing manager at Rauch Fruchtsäfte, “creating beverage trays from r-PET material that does not come from the bottle flow is a great opportunity.” Mandl emphasizes that the company is dedicated to ensuring high-quality r-PET from the bottle flow for the production of new r-PET bottles, while also advocating for the use of alternative forms of packaging for other products.
Having specialized in processing recycled PET for its packaging, Greiner Packaging’s expertise in sustainable packaging for food and drink is well-established. The company’s acquisition of a Serbian r-PET flakes recycler further solidifies its commitment to sustainable packaging, with the aim of driving recycling streams away from bottles. Peter Fessl, Director of Operations Recycling at Greiner Packaging, expresses the company’s steadfast belief in the potential of rPET for a sustainable future, assuring that the project with Rauch Fruchtsäfte is just the beginning of many more to come.
