SGR inaugurates its second PET recycling unit in France: a strong commitment to the circular economy
SGR, a subsidiary of the SGT group, has officially inaugurated its second PET recycling unit located in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique, further reinforcing its commitment to the circular economy and sustainable development. The Rezé site, with a production capacity of 16,000 tons of rPET per year, becomes one of the first PET recycling units in Loire-Atlantique in the west of France, as highlighted by Jean-Michel Buf, Regional Councilor of Pays de la Loire. This ambitious project, supported by local and regional authorities as well as ADEME (the French agency for ecological transition), is part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce carbon footprint and promote the valorization of post-consumer PET bottles.
During the inauguration, guests were able to discover the process of transforming PET flakes into premium quality rPET pellets. This recycled material is intended for the manufacture of new preforms for food applications, adhering to the most stringent safety and quality standards. This project represents an ambitious investment of €20 million over five years, enabling SGR to achieve a total production capacity of 28,000 tons of rPET per year, distributed between the Rezé and Chalon-sur-Saône sites.
The recycling unit in Rezé is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, ensuring efficient sorting and optimal rPET quality. Notable equipment includes advanced sorting systems using artificial intelligence, liquid phase decontamination technology ensuring compliance with the strictest food standards, and a high-precision control laboratory equipped with modern chromatographs to analyze recycled flakes.
SGR is also equipped with the Flake Analyzer from Canadian manufacturer Eagle Vizion. This device combines infrared identification, artificial intelligence, and color recognition to map the flow of recycled flakes with exceptional precision. With this technology, every particle is detected, and the different components of the flow are analysed with unmatched accuracy. The Flake Analyzer’s constantly evolving database contains over 40 types of polymers, including multilayers, as well as materials such as wood, metal, and glass, providing exceptional sorting and analysis capabilities.
“This new facility will also help reduce our carbon footprint, with a decrease of 250 inter-site trucks per year, thus promoting more sustainable logistics,” states Frédéric Mignot, President of SGT/SGR.
It is essential to recall that, in accordance with European directives, starting January 1, 2025, all food packaging must incorporate 25% rPET. “This regulation underscores the urgency and necessity of adopting sustainable recycling practices within the packaging industry, thereby reinforcing our commitment to meeting these requirements and supporting our clients in their transition to environmentally friendly packaging solutions.”
Frédéric Schryve, CEO of SGT/SGR, expressed his gratitude to the teams who contributed to the success of this project: “This recycling unit embodies our commitment to the future, where packaging solutions must be both efficient and environmentally friendly. We are proud to offer ‘Made in France’ solutions, and this new facility demonstrates our desire to promote a sustainable lifecycle for plastics.”
The inauguration concluded with a visit to the recycling unit, during which participants were able to closely observe the various stages of the process, from feeding PET flakes to producing rPET pellets intended for the agri-food market. They also had the opportunity to explore the SGT injection workshop, equipped with 21 presses dedicated to the manufacture of preforms, all integrated at the same site in Rezé.
Caption: (from left to right): Jean-Michel BUF (Regional Councilor of Pays de la Loire), Frédéric MIGNOT (President of SGT/SGR), Frédéric SCHRYVE (CEO of SGT/SGR), and Eric PRUD’HOMME (Regional Director of ADEME).
