Milk bottles will be recycled in a closed-loop system in Switzerland from now on
The Swiss dairy industry is gradually transitioning from polyethylene (PE) to PET for its bottles. Milk products packaged in PET have been in circulation since summer of 2023. Until then, these bottles had to be returned in the plastic bottle collection. According to the new rule, PET milk bottles bearing the blue and yellow logo of PET Recycling Switzerland can now be returned in the separate PET collection and will be recycled in a closed-loop system. Consumers are urged to carefully check the recycling instructions on the milk bottles during the transition phase, as only properly disposed bottles can be recycled in the Swiss PET recycling system.
Milk and milk products such as cream and milk-based drinks have predominantly been filled in polyethylene bottles. While PE bottles also provide excellent protection for delicate dairy products, they have the disadvantage of not being recyclable in a closed-loop system. To promote a circular economy, the Swiss dairy industry has opted to switch to PET for milk bottles. The PET beverage bottle is the only plastic packaging in the food sector that can be recycled in a closed-loop system.
Jean-Claude Würmli, Managing Director of PET Recycling Switzerland, is pleased with this commitment to environmental protection: “It was impressive to see competitors, driven by the desire to produce more sustainable milk bottles, working together and dedicated to this goal.”
To ensure high-quality PET recycling for milk bottles, several conditions must be met. PET beverage bottles must comply with current recycling guidelines (“Design for Recycling”). Additionally, the collection and processing must be financed through an upfront recycling fee included in the selling price. Producers of milk products that meet these conditions are now allowed to use the blue and yellow logo of PET Recycling Switzerland on their products. PET bottles labeled this way, containing milk products, must now be placed in the separate PET collection. All other plastic bottles can still be deposited in the plastic bottle collection.
The recycling of PET beverage bottles containing milk products is technically demanding. Currently, sorting and recycling plant operators are investing in the facilities and processes necessary. A recent example is the new construction and expansion of the PET sorting plant at Müller Recycling AG in Frauenfeld. Thanks to these investments, it will be possible to recycle PET milk bottles in a closed-loop system after the transition phase. Because the sorting and processing of PET beverage bottles are entirely done in Switzerland, transport distances can be reduced compared to the current PE collection, providing additional environmental benefits.
