EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 11/21 www.petpla.net 12 Tour Sponsors: A year and a half of pandemic lies behind us and somehow we have got used to, or at least come to terms with, the ongoing topic of Covid-19 and the associated restrictions that affect so many areas of our lives, both personal and professional. Many places in Europe saw a relaxation in cases during the summer months alongside rising vaccination rates but now, figures are rising once more to new heights. Nevertheless, thanks to vaccinations, testing and various governmental strategies to stem the pandemic, Europeans are on the right track, maybe not always “together”, but at least there is hope. Small steps, such as the opportunity to meet here and there once again at trade fairs and conferences, offer some feeling of normality. However, the crisis is of course far from over. It has generated deep divides in society, politics and the global economy and has shown us all too clearly how much fragility can hide in our comfort zone. How then is the sector to continue to keep itself fit for the future and which learning processes are required? Here in the technology hub Europe, we want to investigate these questions with the European Road Show. Together with Drinktec 2022 and our sponsors ADS, Nissei ASB, Bericap, Contexo, Erema, MHT Mold & Hotrunner, Otto Systems, Pressco, Sesotec, Side, Sorema, Sukano and z-moulds, we are visiting the entire PET process chain in 17 European countries between now and the Drinktec trade fair, which is taking place in Munich from September 12-16, 2022. We will talk to material manufacturers, preformers, bottle blowers, bottlers and recyclers, as well as suppliers to the PET and drinks industries, mechanical engineers and equipment suppliers, about the past, present and future of the sector. The principal aspects over the coming years – namely CO2 reduction, sustainable raw material production and the associated recycling infrastructure – have become mandatory topics on any agenda. The “closed loop” should be the goal of our sector. Nicholas Hodac, Director General of Unesda Soft Drinks Europe, explains: “We have a responsibility to make sure that the bottles we bring to the market are collected and recycled to be turned into new bottles. Our goal is to achieve full circularity for our beverage packaging by 2030. We can only achieve packaging circularity if bottle-to-bottle recycling is real and effective. That’s why we call on the European Commission for “right of first refusal” to the recycled plastic material that we put on the market to be incorporated in the upcoming revision of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. This is a crucial step towards helping our industry to produce new packaging with foodgrade recycled PET compliant with EU food safety standards and achieving the EU collection and recycling targets. It will also prevent our recycled PET from being downcycled into non-food applications such as textile, thus breaking the bottle loop.’’ As always, you will find out all the important details right here in the PETplanet magazine. We are delighted to be on the road for you again and we wish you pleasant reading over the next few months. And if you would be interested in putting your views a fascinating interview in your factory here in Europe, let us know by emailing us at [email protected] www.drinktec.petpla.net www.drinktec.com www.unesda.eu *includes: carbonates, still drinks (<25% juice), iced/RTD tea, iced/RTD coff ee, sports drinks, energy drinks, fl avoured water, enhanced water, squash/syrups, fruit powders Soft drinks* by pack material in the EU EU soft drinks volume sales per capita in litres EU soft drinks total volume sales in million litres
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