BOTTLE4FLEX, a new circular model for recycled PET bottles

The goal of the Bottle4Flex project is to develop new chemical recycling processes for PET and rPET that are sustainable and efficient, and new flexible rPET compounds for 100% recyclable high-performing packaging applications, thereby solving the problem of recycling flexible PET packages.  The BOTTLE4FLEX project is led by COVINIL, a packaging converter company, and also includes the participation of EROSKI and the AIMPLAS technology center.

The development of the project will be a technological breakthrough in the following areas:

1. Develop new rPET recycling processes that are introduced as an alternative for the sector, which contribute to meeting the demand for recycled rPET material.

2. Improve the properties of rPET so that it can be used in 100% recyclable high-performance mono-material flexible packaging applications via new repolymerization and compounding processes.

BOTTLE4FLEX is structured around three activities that are carried out jointly for three years, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2025.

The main impact is the development of a new PET recycling process that can in the short term contribute to solving the problem of the insufficient rPET production capacity, currently at 35 kt, when the need is for 54 kt.  An impact is expected in the packaging sector where today there are no solutions for mono-material film, such as those used for skinpack packaging, vacuum packaging film, and others such as PetFood packaging; there may also be applications in the cosmetics sector.  By 2030, Europe will invest 7.2 billion euros in chemical recycling.