The mandatory deposit system for plastic or metal beverage containers, which came into effect in 2025, means that PET beverage bottles, which have been an important recyclable material up to now, disappeared from the yellow bag or yellow bin. The deposit-refund system results in a new PET collection volume consisting of PET trays, other PET bottles, and flexible PET films. Currently, however, such packaging is only marginally recyclable (PET trays, other PET bottles) or not recyclable at all (PET films). PET is particularly well suited as a recyclable material, which is why it is extremely urgent to focus on the recyclability of this packaging. The prime example of PET bottle recycling shows that Design4Recycling measures (products are designed from the outset to be easier to recycle after use) combined with infrastructural adjustments can generate high-quality recyclates.
The objectives of the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) impose mandatory quotas on companies for both recycling and recycled content. This increases the pressure on all industries involved in the circular economy, and the bar is set high. Under the eco-modulation system currently being developed at national level, which will come into effect by 2030 at the latest, packaging will in future be subject to monetary incentives or penalties depending on its recyclability. Eco-modulation is therefore intended to create economic advantages for recyclable and resource-saving packaging – but its implementation poses a major challenge for companies. From 2030, recyclability below 70% will lead to a market ban in the material fraction relevant to the project. For most of the packaging focused on in the “NYE – New Yellow Economy” project, the consequences would be severe.
Project goal:
The aim of the “NYE – New Yellow Economy” research project is to convert the PET-other (499) material fraction, which has received little attention at national level to date, into a high-quality recyclable material fraction with the largest possible quantity. In collaboration with industry, a PPWR-compliant material flow is being established that meets the new legal requirements. The focus is on solutions for PET trays and flexible PET films, which have been difficult to recycle up to now. The aim is to integrate these into the circular economy in the long term.
Key questions of the project:
- What packaging mix will result in the PET-other (499) fraction from 2025 onwards?
- Which PET-based food packaging will be recyclable in the future?
- Can recyclates from food packaging be reused in food packaging?
- Can the packaging (e.g., PET tray and film or PET bottle and PET tray) be recycled together? What qualities result from the individual and mixed fractions?
- What areas of application can be defined for the (various) recyclates and qualities?
- Can cycles be established in the PET packaging sector that will also meet the “recycled at scale” requirement of the PPWR from 2035 onwards?
- What optimization measures need to be taken in Design4Recycling, sorting, or recycling?
- What happens to the PET reject (residual material from sorting) from labels, sleeves, etc.? Can a potential cycle or integration be established?
Funding: FFG Collective Research
Project consortium:
Lead: Kunststoff-Cluster Niederösterreich
OFI Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik
