PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2025

No.1+2 2025 www.petpla.net D 51178; ISSN: 1438-9452 PETplanet is read in 159 countries Suppliers of resins and additives MARKETsurvey M A G A Z I N E F O R B O T T L E R S A N D B O T T L E - M A K E R S I N T H E A M E R I C A S , A S I A , E U R O P E A N D A L L A R O U N D T H E P L A N E T 03 . 02 . 25 CAPS & CLOSURES EDITOUR Page 20 Page 10 Page 24

Crystal Thumb‘Up Our extended SportCaps range Biarritz NEW In sport, you never settle for less. That’s why we strive for the perfect closures, also when it comes to sustainability. Many closures, such as Biarritz and Monet, are made from a single material, making them easy to recycle. In addition, our sport closures are easy to handle, have integrated tamper evidence solutions and are suitable for cold, dry, or wet aseptic filling. So take the leap – and opt for more sustainability. NEW Monet Contact us and arrange your line trials now! www.bericap.com New mono-material caps for optimized recyclability Going the extra mile for you

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imprint EDITORIAL PUBLISHER Alexander Büchler, Managing Director HEAD OFFICE heidelberg business media GmbH Hubweg 15 74939 Zuzenhausen, Germany phone: +49 6221-65108-0 [email protected] EDITORIAL Kay Barton Heike Fischer Gabriele Kosmehl Michael Maruschke Ruari McCallion Anthony Withers Editorial & WikiPETia. info [email protected] MEDIA CONSULTANTS Martina Hirschmann [email protected] Johann Lange-Brock [email protected] phone: +49 6221-65108-0 LAYOUT AND PREPRESS EXPRIM Werbeagentur Matthias Gaumann www.exprim.de READER SERVICES [email protected] PRINT Chroma Druck Eine Unternehmung der Limberg-Druck GmbH Danziger Platz 6 67059 Ludwigshafen, Germany WWW www.hbmedia.net | www.petpla.net PETplanet Insider ISSN 1438-9459 is published 10 times a year. This publication is sent to qualified subscribers (1-year subscription 149 EUR, 2-year subscription 289 EUR, Young professionals’ subscription 99 EUR. Magazines will be dispatched to you by airmail). Not to be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher. Note: The fact that product names may not be identified as trademarks is not an indication that such names are not registered trademarks. 3 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net We have been able to admire PET closures for quite some time now. Last year, Origin Materials from West Sacramento, USA, presented two manufacturers. For North America, the Reed City Group, known for general plastic products, and for Europe, the Bachmann Group from Hochdorf, Switzerland - known for sustainable packaging. In plant engineering, this latter company cooperates with PackSys Global, also from Switzerland. The company plans to produce 1881 caps, including tethered caps, from PET and recycled PET (see article on p. 26). On page 22 there is also a report from Husky on their PET cap development. The solution is being hailed as a breakthrough in recycling circularity: bottle and cap made from one material. However, the usual polyolefin closures can be easily separated from the PET fractions in a water bath and consequently, there was never really a need for PET closure material here. On the contrary: as a closure is always a design element of the bottle, it is available in a wide variety of colours. A clean separation of cap and bottle is essential, as PET is easiest to recycle back into bottles when it is colourless. The new PET closures do not yet have an answer to this problem. They are transparent so that they do not colour the PET fraction during recycling. It remains to be seen whether bottlers will accept colourless closures. But the challenges of bottle-to-bottle recycling - which should really be called cap-and-bottle-to-cap-and-bottle recycling - start earlier. As the cap cannot simply be sorted out of the PET stream, the idea is to recycle it together with the bottle. The recycling of the closures is said to work on a laboratory scale, but we have not yet heard of a large-scale trial in a PET recycling plant, despite our enquiries. The recycling industry is asking itself whether the intrinsic viscosity (IV) of the closure material matches the IV of the bottles and whether a homogeneous rPET material is subsequently produced. It is also unclear how the PET cap manufacturers intend to avoid cold welding of the cap and bottle neck. Consumers may have difficulty removing the PET cap from the PET neck. It can be assumed that coatings or additives ensure a clean separation of neck and closure. But what influence do these additives have on rPET in cap-and-bottle-to-cap-andbottle recycling? Practice will certainly find answers to all these questions. For our part, we are looking forward to the first mass produced PET closures. Yours, Alexander Büchler Dear readers,

PETcontents 4 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 01+02/2025 EDITOUR 10 Expansion course in the Middle East - Steady investment by Egyptian plastics converter 12 Label-less bottle in Oman, a first step towards b2b recycling? 14 Closures for Egypt and the entire region - Market leader from Germany in the Middle East 16 Editour, with a difference: Circular Economy Tour 2025 - Key topics: Material savings, energy efficiency, closing the loop & new EU legislation BOTTLE MAKING 18 Joint approach to packaging development and production CAPS / CLOSURES 20 “We do not feel that the market is any quieter” - Interview with Michael Fink, CEO of Z-Moulds 22 PET closures come into their own - Husky’s advances in design, manufacturing and sustainability of caps & closures 26 PET closures for 1881 and beyond - Improving performance, enhancing sustainability 28 Cap recycling takes off - Circularity for polyolefin bottle caps 29 Tethered caps assembly - Highspeed system - all processes integrated 30 Half the space is needed... The CapWatcher Compact by Intravis 32 Ready for tethered solutions - Has Plastik expands portfolio to support customers 33 Improvement of caps and closures - Towards a sustainable and lightweight packaging 34 Automated matching system - Addressing challenges and changes with the “Preforms and Closures” platform MARKET SURVEY 24 Suppliers of resins & additives EVENT PREVIEW 35 CBST 2025 preview 36 Chinaplas 2025 preview, part 1 OUTER PLANET 46 Race Eco Chain - Plastic waste management platform in India BUYER’S GUIDE 40 Get listed! INSIDE TRACK 3 Editorial 4 Contents 6 News 38 PET bottles for beverage + liquid food 39 Patents CAPS & CLOSURES EDITOUR Page 10 Page 18 Page 33 EDITOUR

yellow.agency A FAMILY OWNED SWISS COMPANY. T OTA LLY SW I S S. OUR INJEC TION MOULDS FOR PET, PAC AND MED FEATURE ROCK-SOLID, GENUINE SWISS CRAFTSMANSHIP. OT TO-HOFSTET TER.SWISS O F P R E C I S I O N 70 YEARS

PETnews 6 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net New responsibilities at Otto Hofstetter AG and Otto Systems Effective from January 1, 2025, Reto Bamert, currently Head of Global Sales at Otto Systems, took over as Head of the PET Division at Otto Hofstetter AG. He succeeded Stefan Zatti, who has held the position on an interim basis and is now returning to focus on his roles as CEO of Otto Systems and Head of Sales and Marketing for the entire organisation. As a logical step following Reto Bamert’s appointment, the sales and after-sales services for the PET sector at Otto Hofstetter AG and Otto Systems will be more closely aligned internally. This development will benefit customers by addressing growing demands for flexibility, personalised support, swift availability, and cost efficiency even more effectively. Importantly, customers’ existing points of contact in both companies will remain unchanged and will continue to provide their reliable support worldwide. Under Reto Bamert’s leadership, the organisation will be tailored even more precisely to the needs of its global customer base. At the same time, services and solutions will continue to be developed to meet specific customer requirements and adapt to changing external conditions. His extensive experience in global sales and in-depth industry knowledge make him the ideal choice for this key role, says the company. www.otto-hofstetter.swiss 11th ICIS PET Value Chain Conference The 11th ICIS PET Value Chain Conference in Amsterdam, held March 6-7, 2025 in the Kimpton De Witt Hotel, will delve into the critical challenges and transformative shifts affecting the PET and rPET markets. Europe’s PET value chain is currently navigating significant hurdles, including logistical disruptions, pricing volatility, and uncertainties in import timelines due to global shipping issues. Additionally, the 2025 implementation of the Single Use Plastic Directive, which mandates 25% recycled content in PET beverage bottles, is accelerating the shift towards circularity and driving fundamental changes in both virgin and recycled PET markets. Conference key themes and highlights include an in-depth analysis of global PET market shifts, focusing on the interaction between virgin PET and rPET supply-demand dynamics. The conference will also explore the effects of overcapacity in Asia, evolving trade flows, and logistical challenges that are shaping the competitiveness of European players. Circularity, sustainability and technological innovation are another central focus, examining how regulatory pressures, brand owner commitments, and advancements in recycling technologies, biopolymers, and hybrid solutions are steering the industry toward a circular economy. Regional trade and procurement opportunities will also be assessed, covering market dynamics in Europe, North America, Asia, Turkey, and Africa. Discussions will address the impacts of tariffs, trade policies, certifications, and supply chain disruptions, alongside investment opportunities in both emerging and established markets. The ICIS PET Value Chain Conference provides a platform for producers, converters, and end-users to share insights, explore market trends, and understand the evolving landscape of the PET and rPET sectors amid global and regional challenges. www.icis.com Netstal establishes its own subsidiary in Mexico Netstal has founded its own subsidiary in Mexico for sales and customer service with immediate effect. The new company is based in Santiago de Querétaro. Netstal is taking over the existing employees and Netstal business operations of iTech Latinoamérica, which previously represented the brand in Mexico as an independent agency. With this step, Netstal is expanding its personnel capacities in the important Mexican market. Customers will have access to consultation and comprehensive services right from the start. The newly founded company has been operating under the name Netstal Máquinas, S. de R.L. de C.V. in the premises of the former iTech Latinoamérica since January 14, 2025. Netstal Mexico, a subsidiary of Netstal Maschinen AG, Switzerland, has successfully employed the team from iTech Mexico into its operations. Furthermore, the owners of iTech have independently decided to cease operations indefinitely by dissolving their company. The new Netstal Mexico team comprises seven employees in the areas of sales, customer service and administration. José Lelo de Lar rea has been entrusted with the management of the Mexican Netstal subsidiary. He cofounded iTech Latinoamérica in 2010 and successfully built up iTech as a managing partner. Since 2023, the company has been the official representative for Netstal in the strategically important Mexican market. iTech’s co-founding partners, Rod Selem and Irineu Scalisse will continue to play a valuable role as business and technical advisors for Netstal in the region. Renzo Davatz, CEO: “In line with our strategy, with this step we are further expanding the global Netstal organisation under the umbrella of Krones. Following the opening of Netstal Dubai earlier this year, we are establishing the next subsidiary in the growth market of Mexico. I would like to welcome all new employees in Mexico to the global Netstal team and wish José Lelo de Larrea every success in his new role as Managing Director.” www.netstal.com Looking forward to the new cooperation (f.l.t.r.): Renzo Davatz (CEO Netstal), José Lelo de Larrea (Managing Director Netstal Mexico) and Nadeem Amin (President Netstal Americas)

7 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 CREATING FUTURE STANDARDS Japan’s leading Aseptic PET Filling System Provider. Our website Our solution high quality reliable technology safe & secure DePoly and PTI partner to create closed loop recycled PET bottle DePoly, the Swiss CleanTech company which is specialised in advanced recycling of PET/polyester plastics, announced their collaboration with PTI (Plastic Technologies Inc) a leader in sustainable plastic packaging design and development, to create a closed loop recycled PET bottle. Using a mixed stream of feedstock, ranging from PET plastic packaging, polyester fibres and industrial waste, DePoly’s technology has broken down the PET and polyester back to its raw monomers, Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA). From this virgin-grade quality PTA, PET pellets were produced. Finally, these PET pellets were blown into recycled PET bottles using PTI’s 40 years of expertise and technology. DePoly set out to challenge itself by using PET and polyester plastic waste from packaging and insulation. The DePoly technology produced a high-qual i ty PTA used to produce rPET that was processed into bottles by injection stretch blow moulding. This project demonstrates the strengths of bringing together the technical robustness of DePoly and PTI’s extensive expertise in plastic packaging processing and manufacturing. Both companies worked together to demonstrate a closed loop solution for plastic recycling into high grade bottles. Blowing a PET bottle is generally one of the more challenging end products to produce, highlighting the experience of PTI and maturity of DePoly’s technology, capable of bringing a universal approach to PET & Polyester recycling. Making bottles from varied PET & polyester waste DePoly’s uncompromising take on quality has been at the heart of this project. Not only did they succeed in producing a recycled PET bottle, but they did so by taking a broad spectrum of feedstock with the final product being a recycled PET bottle, one of the most difficult products to create. From a challenge point of view, this ticks off all the boxes and further demonstrates that DePoly’s technology is versatile and adaptable, enabling the company to pave the way for a new standard in the industry. In parallel to the bottle sampling, the conclusion of a preliminary screening analysis of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in DePoly rPET material is showing that the tested sample complies with the overall and specific migration requirements for the PET typical substances in contact with all types of food at any long-term storage at room temperature and below, including hot fill. www.depoly.co www.plastictechnologies.com

8 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net SGT Group acquires Axium Packaging SGT Group, a leading manufacturer of PET preforms and food-grade rPET based in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique, France, announces the acquisition of Axium Packaging. This strategic move is intended to strengthen SGT’s position in the European market and to open new horizons for growth and innovation. Axium Packaging has established itself as a leading expert in the injection and blow moulding of bottles, jars, and caps. With six entities and 385 employees, the company achieved a turnover of EUR 76 million in 2024. Axium serves primarily the food and beverage sectors, as well as the health, hygiene, beauty, and household products markets. With production facilities in France, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Germany, this acquisition is claimed to provide SGT Group with enhanced industrial capabilities and a broader technological offering, all while maintaining a shared commitment to eco-responsibility. The acquisition of Axium Packaging is intended to grant SGT Group access to new expertise, particularly in injection and extrusion blow moulding, while expanding its product portfolio. This strategic complementarity is claimed to strengthen operational synergies, consolidate the group’s presence in the European market, and to create new opportunities in sectors such as cosmetics, hygiene, and beauty. In a context of increasing environmental and regulatory challenges, this alliance underscores SGT Group’s dedication to promoting rPET packaging solutions, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. Axium Packaging complements this vision with eco-designed products and a sustainability strategy aligned with international standards, such as ISO 26000 and SMETA. www.sgt-pet.com Alpla: successful 2024 financial year Alpla continued its growth trajectory in 2024 with new products, plants, business areas, acquisitions and a focus on training skilled workers. The international packaging and recycling specialist increased its turnover from EUR 4.7 billion to EUR 4.9 billion and grew its workforce to 24,350 employees. Alpla is broadening its targets for the recycling sector. The company plans to double its output recycling capacity to 700,000 t of recycled material by 2030. The annual turnover of EUR 4.9 billion represents an increase of 4 per cent compared to 2023. There has been significant growth in the number of sites and employees. Alpla has reached the 200-plant mark and created more than a thousand new jobs through new business areas, acquisitions and training programmes. A total of 24,350 employees work at 200 locations in 46 countries. Growth markets and innovation In addition to the strong growth markets in South America, Africa and the Middle East, demand in North and Central America also recovered in 2024. Alpla is also experiencing an upward trend in Europe. However, the market environment remains chal lenging. “Increasing EU regulation is creating a lot of work and weakening our international competitiveness. This is compounded by high labour costs in some countries. We are countering this with increased efficiency, new products and our leading role in recycling,” says CEO Philipp Lehner. The markets in the Asia-Pacific region offer huge potential. With the upcoming opening of a new plant in Thailand in 2025, Alpla is setting the course for the future here. Recycling: doubling capacity by 2030 The company invests at least EUR 50 million a year in recycling and is on track to achieve its goal of using at least 25 per cent recycled material in its packaging by 2025 and will significantly increase its capacity. The Alplarecycling division produces PET and HDPE recycled materials (rPET and rHDPE) at 13 plants in nine countries. The aim is to double the current installed and planned output capacity of 350,000 t by 2030. As a system provider for bottles and closures, combined with the Alplarecycling division, which has existed since 2023, the company covers numerous industries and markets. In 2024, the new Alplainject division strengthened the injection moulding line. Alplapharma was expanded in 2024 with the integration of Heinlein Plastik-Technik into the group. Alplaindustrial is another division for large-volume packaging. The portfolio was enriched with new products such as the PET wine bottle. www.alpla.com Andrea Grandi is the new General Manager of the Sacmi Group Andrea Grandi succeeds Mau r o Fenzi as General Ma n a g e r o f t h e Sacmi Group, following the conclusion of Fenz i ’s tenure on December 31, 2024. A 49-year-old electronics engineer, Grandi has been with Sacmi almost 25 years. During that time, he has displayed outstanding technical and managerial skills, most notably in mechatronics and industrial automation, says the company. His first 18 years were spent in the Special Pressing Business Unit and as the Metals PU Manager. In 2020, he became General Manager of the Advanced Technologies BU. Over the last three years he has held the key roles of Operations and Plant Director and, subsequently, Corporate Product Supply Manager, demonstrating a talent for operational management and innovation development. In addition to his positions at Sacmi, Andrea Grandi is a member of the Forming Committee of UCIMU (Association of Italian Machine Tool, Robot and Automation Manufacturers). He was also formerly on the Technical Committee of AIM, the Italian Metallurgy Association. www.sacmi.com

9 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net ! "# " ! " " $ %

EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 10 Steady investment by Egyptian plastics converter Expansion course in the Middle East by Kay Barton In 1998, New Modern Plast Egypt started its activities within the family-run Modern Plast Group, which is active in plastics processing. This division of the company, one of four in the group, serves the plastic packaging sector and is now one of the leading processors in preform and closure production. We met Technical Director Khaled Elalfy and Sales Manager Amr Mahdy in the industrial area of New Cairo and took a closer look at the setup. Meeting with New Modern Plast Company September 5, 2024 We met: Mr Khaled Elalfy, Technical Director Mr Amr Mahdy, Sales Manager The company originally started 26 years ago in the city of Badr and moved 2022 to the current industrial area in New Cairo. The current Chairman Mohamed Ahmed, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cairo University, is the founder of New Modern Plast and its affiliated companies and has 30 years of experience. Vice Chairman and CEO Dr Samah has been a passionate part of the plastics industry for 13 years and has been actively involved in decision making throughout her career. She has successfully restructured the company and introduced a system that, according to the company, has significantly increased both efficiency and productivity within the organisation. A success-driven medical doctor who graduated from Ain Shams University, she is currently studying for an MBA. The facility covers a lot of space and several areas were being built on at the time of our interview visit. New Modern Plast has several production facilities located close to each other, separated by product area. There is even a technical training centre for schoolchildren to teach them about the world of plastics processing and thus lay the foundations for the potential skilled workers of tomorrow. Over the past ten years, the company has continuously invested in expansion and technology, as they explained to us. “We started with a Husky HyPET with an annual output of 120 million preforms,” explained Khaled Elalfy. “We now have eleven Husky HyPET systems ranging between 300 and 400 t with 72 to 128 cavities, as well as a Netstal PETline. Our combined preform output totals 3 billion.” In addition to the portfolio 29/25 (14 types, 7.9 g-27.5 g), PCO1881 (14 types, 15.7 g-49 g), preforms for edible oil bottles (four types, 210 g-680 g) and large format containers (three types, 19 g-26 g), 29/25, 1881, 48mm and 55mm closures are also produced. “The cap production has been around since 2021,” explained Mr Mahdy, pointing to the two Sacmi CCM48SD during the tour. A Husky 300 t Hylectric is also in operation. The company also manufactures racks for water gallons, as well as plastic pallets and transport crates. “All the plants together make up 45,000m2 of space,” says Mr Elalfy. Apart from Egypt, the products are exported to Saudi Arabia, Libya, Yemen, Morocco, Kenya and the UAE. “Outside of our portfolio, we can also plan and create customised designs,” explained Khaled Elalfy. The preform part accounts for around 50% of turnover, with closures and other plastic products such as pallets each contributing 25%. In Egypt, customers include Nestlé, PepsiCo, Dasani and Coca-Cola, as well as the water brands Wapco, Hayat and Siwa, among others. Sufficient storage facilities with around 20 warehouses, which are strategically well distributed, should ensure problem-free supply, according to the team. The Editourmobil in front of the company entrance with (from left to right) Khaled Elalfy, Kay Barton and Amr Mahdy Amr Mahdy with freshly produced Nestlé caps EDITOUR

Editour PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 11 In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, New Modern Plast has been operating a second production facility for several months, working with three Husky preform lines and one for closures. Another plant in Al-Kharj near Riyadh for the production of preforms on two Husky HyPET systems and closures on one Husky HyCAP system is currently being planned. “A new branch for us is the processing of rPET,” explained Khaled Elalfy. “Nestlé and Pepsi are our current customers, and we are currently in the approval process with Coca-Cola. The topic of rPET is still a nascent one in this country, but it is becoming increasingly important, which is why we are also tapping into this area.” He is referring to a US$25 million investment for the construction of a Starlinger recycling unit with a capacity of 15 t on an area of 50,000m2, which is scheduled to start in 2025. www.newmodernplast.com Khaled Elalfy (right) with Amr Mahdy in front of a Husky HyPET 300

EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 12 Label-less bottle in Oman, a first step towards b2b recycling? by Alexander Büchler Barzman, headquartered in Muscat, is taking a significant step toward sustainability with the introduction of its innovative “label-less bottle.” Although b2b recycling has yet to gain much traction in the region, Barzman is setting a bold example with this initiative. We spoke with Eldho Mathew, General Manager of Barzman, about this new development, their production processes, and the inhouse pallet logistics system that powers the operation. September 19, 2024 We met: Eldho Mathew, Managing Director of Barzman. Mr Saif Mohamad Khatrosh Alnoumani, Chairman of International Foods and Beverages LLC Founded in October 2003 near the village of Barzman in the Sharqiyah Governorate, about 200km from Muscat, Barzman initially focused on bottled water and other food products. The company expanded significantly with the opening of a second production facility in Muscat in 2009. Eldho Mathew, who has been with the company for over 20 years, has played a pivotal role in its success. In 2014, Barzman reached a turning point by switching to a short neck design with a 29/25mm opening, optimising bottle weight by 10-20%. The company also installed a Sidel Matrix Combi 10 production line with a capacity of 22,000 bph. Barzman’s flagship product, developed by its R&D, is the 250ml still water bottle, produced alongside formats up to 1.5 l. The production line employs a classic block system from Sidel, connecting the stretch blow-moulding machine directly to the filler. After filling, bottles are labelled and shrinkwrapped in packs of 24 and 30. Following this success, Barzman added an identical production line just a year later, boosting daily output to over 40,000 bph. The company also developed its own pallet logistics system, which allows 28 pallets to be loaded into lorry trailers in just two minutes. Barzman’s water source is a natural aquifer, rich in minerals, filtered and purified using specialised equipment. Five years ago, Barzman tripled its production capacity with the installation of a new Krones bottling line, capable of producing 81,000 bph. This line includes an integrated labelling station and inspection processes for fill levels, caps, and labels, while also expanding the pallet logistics system. Label-less bottle Despite limited waste separation and PET bottle collection initiatives in the Gulf States, Eldho Mathew has prioritised the sustainability of PET bottles. Barzman’s lightweight bottles are seen as a more energy-efficient alternative to cans or glass. Looking toward the future, Barzman has introduced the “label-less bottle,” a bottle free of labels and adhesives, simplifying the recycling process. The new bottle was unveiled on February 15, 2024 by Chairman Saif Mohamad Khatrosh Alnoumani at Barzman’s Muscat facility. EDITOUR

EDITOUR 13 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 Barzman, the flagship bottled water brand of International Foods and Beverages LLC, celebrates 20 years of excellence in 2024. Production began in 2004, and Barzman quickly set industry benchmarks with its high-quality water sourced from natural underground wells rich in minerals. The company’s Al Mawaleh facility, launched in 2009, boasts a production capacity of over 130,000 bph. Barzman was the first company in the GCC to introduce 250ml bottles as a sustainable alternative to plastic cups. Committed to quality and innovation, Barzman remains at the forefront of Oman’s water industry. www.abaad.om Mr Eldho Mathew with the classic design of the 250ml bottles and the two label-less bottles. The label-less bottle features flat surfaces around the circumference, similar to hot-fill bottles, and is available in two variants—one with four panels and one with six. These structural features are added during the stretch blow-moulding process. The development took several years, requiring adjustments to preform temperature control and bottle stability. According to Mr. Alnoumani, this innovation is intended to lead the way for bottle-to-bottle recycling, incorporating recycled PET (rPET) and promoting environmental sustainability at every stage of production.

EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 14 Market leader from Germany in the Middle East Closures for Egypt and the entire region by Kay Barton In order to be able to adequately serve the emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East with closures, Bericap started its local representation with production near Cairo 20 years ago, more precisely in a rented property in Abou Rawash. The company remained here for nine years before relocating to owned estate of the art manufacturing facility in an industrial estate around 35 km away in the 6th of October City due to the positive development of the markets and customer situation in the region, where it then purchased land and opened a plant that is now around 20,000m2 in size. Tarek Sultan has been part of the Bericap success story for 17 years and welcomed us for an interview as part of the Middle East Road Show. EDITOUR September 10, 2024 We met: Mr Tarek Sultan, Managing Director and Board Member We sit together in Mr Sultan’s office. The 57-year-old father of three daughters has a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering and is, as he says, ‘proud to be Bericapian’. “It’s not just a job, I feel a strong emotional connection to the company,” he explained with a smile during the interview. In his first job in 1989, he worked for the oil exploration company Schlumberger and searched for oil in the North Sea. His career then took him via Procter & Gamble, where he worked for 13 years in Pampers diaper production in the UK, Germany, Argentina, Japan, Poland, Turkey and Saudi Arabia – quite a round trip. “I then came back to Egypt and worked for PepsiCo as Operations Director for three years before becoming GM for Henkel Egypt and finally GM of Bericap in 2007,” says Mr Sultan. Since 2017, he has also been a Board Member for Bericap Egypt and at the same time Director and Board Member at Bericap East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, the new production facility of the caps and closures producer, which opened in January 2024 with 4,000m2 of space and six production lines after being a trading company for eight years. The plant in Egypt employs 130 people, around 90 of whom work in the production and tech part. 29 different closures and caps are currently in the portfolio here with an annual output of around 4 billion units. Cold halves from the in-house mould maker Bekomold are used in conjunction with a third party hotrunner systems. The Bericap closure Hexalite 29/11 UL2 (ultralight version for the neck finish 29/25) is the most popular in terms of volume. During the last year we significantly increased our capacity for this product,” explained Tarek Sultan. “And we still see growing demands in the market.” Mr Sultan has risen from the executive chair at his desk and enthusiastically goes through the map with us, which hangs on the wall behind the desk and shows the company’s activities in the individual regions. He explained that the export volume used to be 20%, today it is 40%. The Egyptian products are currently destined for 28 countries in Africa, primarily North and East Africa, and the Middle East. “We also bought a factory in Durban, South Africa, in 2024 and are now producing specifically for that region. We have also a dedicated sales office in Casablanca, Morocco.” Mr Sultan assumes that the new GME 30.40 neck finish will also be increasingly available in the Egyptian market in the near future. “When the time comes, we will be prepared in any case.” www.bericap.com Tarek Sultan at his desk Tarek Sultan (left) and Kay Barton in the Bericap Egypt production hall The Editourmobil in the yard of Bericap Egypt with Tarek Sultan (left) and Kay Barton

EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 16 Key topics: Material savings, energy effi ciency, closing the loop & new EU legislation Editour, with a difference: Circular Economy Tour 2025 A new year means a new Editour for the PETplanet Insider team. However, this year is a little different: yes, there will be market analyses, we will visit companies and report on technical innovations. But this time our Editour has a specific theme: the Circular Economy. As this topic is particularly relevant for countries connected to the European Union, these will be our Editour’s 2025 focus. The circular economy is a broad term that is easy to define at first glance, but is very multifaceted in its implementation. The PETplanet Insider team has therefore selected three parameters to serve as the cornerstones of our analyses during our on-site visits. According to our research, ‘material savings’, ‘energy efficiency’ and ‘closing the loop’ are the most important, tangible parameters that are named when it comes to the sustainable production and development of a product or to processes within a company. With our Editour 2025, we want to show how productive, creative and innovative our industry is. Beyond highlighting the economic opportunities within the circular economy, we also want to emphasise the ecological successes that can be achieved sustainably. We will be talking to our interview partners - on site at their premises - about the challenges they face, the techniques they use and their real benefits. The Editour’s focus includes: Material: Lightweighting bottles, closures, labels, and secondary packaging; exploring alternative materials; minimising production waste; and optimising supply chains. Energy: Enhancing the efficiency of compressors and heating systems, reducing CO2 footprints, and exploring renewable energy sources. Closing the Loop: Promoting B2B recycling, design for recycling, and fostering circular economy models and partnerships to increase the availability of high-quality rPET. Some courageous people are leading the way and we believe that this courage must be rewarded, especially in these times: we would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, who have been with us for many years and who continue to demonstrate their innovative strength through new developments. New EU regulations In line with our Editour, 2025 will bring a number of changes for the packaging industry. Here is a small selection: In 2025, the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, which stipulates a 25% recycled content in PET beverage bottles, will accelerate the transition to a circular economy and bring about fundamental changes in the market for both new and recycled PET. The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is expected to come into force in mid-2026 after being formally adopted by the EU Council in December 2024. The regulation sets out new requirements for the design of packaging and the use of materials. The PPWR regulations include reducing the weight and volume of packaging, minimising hazardous substances in packaging materials and promoting the circular economy through organic recycling. But let’s take a look outside the box - there’s a lot more to come. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive for example. It is one of the most important sustainability regulations in the EU. The directive, which is the successor to and extension of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), has applied to public interest entities since 2024. It should actually apply to all other large companies under accounting law from 2025; these are obliged to report on the 2025 financial year in 2026. Under accounting law, large companies are defined as companies that either have a turnover of more than EUR 50 million, a balance sheet total of more than EUR 25 million or employ more than 250 people (two of three criteria must be met). CBAM 2025: EU measurement method becomes mandatory and register is live The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is an EU measure that has been in force since October 1, 2023. The aim is to minimise the risk of greenhouse gas emissions being shifted to third countries (carbon leakage). With the CBAM, the EU wants to ensure that the same CO2 price is paid for the greenhouse gas emissions of certain imported goods as in the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The CBAM applies to direct production-related (grey) emissions from certain imported goods such as cement, electricity, fertilisers, hydrogen, iron and steel and aluminium, as well as other upstream and downstream products. Companies have had to submit a CBAM report to the EU every quarter since 2024. Since August 2024, the use of default values for calculating emissions is no longer permitted; since then, companies have had to collect and use primary data from the supply chain. What is new from 2025 is that the EU method for calculating emissions will be mandatory. Hitherto, companies have been allowed to determine emissions values in different ways. For example, companies were previously permitted to determine their EDITOUR Sponsors to date:

Closing the Loop Energy Efficiency Material Savings EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net 17 emissions data using either a CO2 pricing system at the installation site, a mandatory emissions monitoring system at the installation site or an emissions monitoring system at the installation. However, these options will no longer be permitted from 2025. From the beginning of the year, only the EU method may be used. Furthermore, companies will be allowed to estimate 20 per cent of the total grey emissions associated with complex goods. Companies will also be able to register in the CBAM register from 2025. This will become obligatory from 2026, as from next year, only companies that are registered in the EU CBAM register will be allowed to import corresponding goods (such as steel). The corresponding portal was actually due to go live on January 1 this year. Due to delays, the EU will not go live with the CBAM register until the first quarter of 2025. The CBAM will actually come into effect from January 1, 2026, when the CBAM import duties on the ‘import of emissions’ will become due. The EU supply chain law (CSDDD) The so-called EU supply chain law, the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), has been in force since July 2024. With the CSDDD, the EU is imposing new due diligence obligations on companies. The aim of the directive is to prevent human rights violations and environmental pollution along the supply chain of European companies. The timetable for the CSDDD is as follows: EU member states have two years from the directive’s entry into force to transpose it into national law. The CSDDD must therefore be implemented by July 2026 at the latest. The most important information for companies is that the CSDDD will not apply before 2027, and then only for large companies with more than 3,000 employees. In the two following years, the EU supply chain law will then also apply to companies with more than 3,000 and 1,000 employees respectively. The EU Ecodesign Regulation The EU Ecodesign Regulation has been in force since July 2024. The EU wants to use it to make products recyclable and prevent products from being thrown away. Manufacturers are therefore subject to new regulations. The EU Commission wants to develop product-specific rules by March 2025. The first delegated act under the Ecodesign Regulation could come into force on July 19, 2025 at the earliest - one year after the regulation itself comes into force. Companies will then generally have 18 months from the entry into force of the respective delegated act to redesign their products in accordance with the regulation. All these directives and laws are part of the EU’s Green Deal, which is the EU’s contribution to the Paris Agreement, which the EU and all its countries ratified and which set the goal of keeping global warming to maximum +1.5 °C compared to preindustrial levels. The European Green Deal is the EU’s growth strategy. It was launched in 2019. With its package of policy initiatives, which set the EU on the path to a green transition, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. We have summarised all these developments and explanations for you, dear readers, because we want to share them with you. On our Editour, we want to see how you specifically deal with these requirements, what they look like in practice: we will also be taking up your suggestions and reporting on them. It’s a broad field and it’s complex, but we think it’s important to report on it! We are very much looking forward to meeting you! https://petpla.net/2024/12/09/ the-circular-economy-tour-2025/

BOTTLE MAKING 18 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net Joint approach to packaging development and production The beverage industry is highly competitive. To succeed, companies must produce their drinks in a clean and cost-effective way. But that’s not enough. With so many brands vying for attention, standing out on the shelf is essential. That’s where Sipa comes in providing a design service that helps beverage producers achieve those goals. A recent example is their work with Beysu an important natural spring water producer in Turkey where they also installed different Sincro Bloc systems, enabling them to produce the brand new bottle family. The Beysu plant, which is operated by Konya Suki Enerji Yatirim San. VE TİC. A.Ş., was designed and built to offer high-quality natural spring water to consumers. The water is bottled at the source in the Doğanbey district of Beyşehir. Beysu sought to optimise its production line with a focus on efficiency, hygiene and sustainability, and partnered with Sipa to implement a comprehensive solution tailored to their specific needs. Sipa worked closely with Beysu to develop a range of new bottle formats that would enable them to meet their market demands while optimising material usage and performance. Three immediate objectives were identified on order to achieve the company’s goals: lightweighting, format diversification and performance optimisation. Sipa’s experience in lightweighting hepls Beysu to create bottles that minimised material consumption and consequent environmental impact, without compromising bottle strength or their aesthetics. Sipa also supported Beysu to develop a wide range of bottle formats to cater for different consumer preferences, products and market segments. It now offers water in 250, 330 and 500ml, 1l, 1.5 l and 5 l formats. Sipa’s design tools and simulations, employed over many years and across a wide range of markets, including bottled water, helped to speed up development of bottles that would meet Beysu’s performance requirements for top-load strength, carbonation retention and overall durability. Sincro Bloc: the heart of efficient and hygienic production Beysu’s new production line consists of two Sincro Bloc systems, each of which integrate blow moulding, filling and capping into a single monobloc unit. Sipa says that integrating these processes eliminates unnecessary steps and reduces bottle handling, leading to faster production speeds, lower labour costs and therefore greater efficiency and profitability. Beysu implemented two types of Sincro Blocs: the Sincro Bloc R (for rotary) and Sincro Bloc L (for linear) configurations, in order to accommodate their array of bottle formats and production needs. High-speed production for several bottle formats Beysu’s Sincro Bloc R line features the Xtra 16 rotary blow moulding machine, synchronised with a filler equipped with 60 electronic filling valves and 20 capping valves. This configuration allows for highspeed production across a range of bottle sizes. Up to 48,000 bph can be produced in 250, 330 or 500ml formats. Alternatively, the machine can produce 34,000 bph for 1 l bottles or 31,000 bph for 1.5 l bottles. Beysu’s 5 l bottles are produced on the Sincro Bloc L system, which incorporates the SFL BIG6 linear blow moulding machine synchronised with a filler equipped with 16 electronic filling valves and six capping valves. This configuration achieves a production speed of 6,600 bph for the 5 l format. Xtra rotary blow moulding machine The Xtra rotary blow moulding machine used in the Sincro Bloc R

BOTTLE MAKING 19 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net system provides exceptional output, according to Sipa, as demonstrated by the productin speeds it achieves in operation. The advanced technology incorprated in the machinery help to optimise energy consumption, thus contributing to lower operating costs and reducing the environmental impact of the factory. The Xtra is designed for easy operation and maintenance, simplifying production processes for Beysu’s factory floor operators. SFL 6 performance linear blow moulding machine The SFL BIG 6 linear blow moulding machine, which is also integrated into the Sincro Bloc L system, offers real versatility. It can produce the full range of the company’s bottle sizes, including the 5 l format, with precision and efficiency. Its linear design offers a spaceefficient solution within the production facility. Sipa says that the SFL Big 6 linear blow moulding machine delivers consistent and reliable performance, leading to depeandable output of highquality bottles. The collaboration between Sipa and Beysu demonstrates how innovative technology and expert, experienced support can help beverage producers achieve their production and sales objectives. By combining Sincro Bloc systems with advanced blow moulding machines, Beysu is happy that it has created a highly efficient, hygienic and flexible production line that meets its current needs and positions it for future growth www.sipasolutions.com

CAPS & CLOSURES 20 PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net Interview with Michael Fink, CEO of Z-Moulds “We do not feel that the market is any quieter” PETplanet: Dear Mr Fink, z-werkzeugbau became the Z-Group. May I ask you to recapitulate the milestones and how theses enabled Z-Moulds to achieve its leading position in the market? Mr Fink: z-werkzeugbau had three different business units in different market segments 2023: Z-Moulds, in the caps & closure market for high-performance injection moulding systems, Z-Microsystems in the medical sector, specialised in microfluidic products for lab-on-a-chip applications and Z-Prototyping as a specialist in additive manufacturing. In order to offer these three areas their full development potential, these three business units were spun off into their own independent companies. What remained was the Z-Group, as a service provider and parent company. This way the newly established z-moulds GmbH has now independency in orienting and growing in the packaging market. PETplanet: In recent years, for example, the new EU directives on tethered caps have boosted development in the caps mould sector. Since then, the market has become somewhat quieter. Where do you see future development opportunities in cap mould production? Mr Fink: Actually, we do not feel that the market is any quieter. On the one hand, there are still a lot of developments in improving the current tethered solutions and on the other hand, the new requirements came across with new standards for bottle finishes, which will now be adapted in other continents outside of Europe as well. Therefore, there is still lots of movement in the caps & closure market globally. PETplanet: The topic of sustainability plays a major role in the EU directives, as well as in a future-orientated company. What are the three most important components for sustainable business at Z-Moulds? Mr Fink: When it comes to environmental sustainability, our company can certainly be seen as one of the pioneers or early implementers. When we built our new building in 2016, we paid attention to sustainable raw materials and integration into the beautiful natural landscape of Austria from the very beginning. Our ultra-modern automated manufacturing centres fit seamlessly into a pleasant wooden facade. The electricity comes from a photovoltaic system on the roof above. Also simple things like cleverly organised waste management to reduce and recycle is key. We think each simple and small act of reducing carbon footprint counts. PETplanet: This year will once again be a particularly eventful one for the beverage industry - the Drinktec and K trade fairs are of course the big highlights in autumn. But spring will also kick off with Chinaplas for the Chinese market, for example. Where will our readers and friends of PETplanet find Z-Moulds and can you already tell us whether you have any special news in store? Mr Fink: Our exhibition year in 2025 will start with the Plastimagen in Mexico, followed by the Plastico Brasil in São Paulo and Chinaplas in Shenzhen. Then we will participate at two well-known industry conferences, the AMI Plastic Closure Innovations and the PETnology. The Autumn, as mentioned, will end the year with Drinktec, K-Show and also the Gulfood in Dubai. – And yes, of course, we will always be able to display new developments and innovations. PETplanet: Thank you very much for the interview and we are delighted to present the latest innovations from Z-Moulds now: The new 26/22mm GME 30.40 with tethered function Lightweight: Weighing only 1.7 g, the 26/22mm closure is claimed to be the lightest closure in its category on the market. Despite its lightweight design, it offers robustness and can be stored effortlessly in large containers such as octabins. This combination of low weight and high durability makes it a goodsolution for a wide range of applications, says Z-Moulds. Technical design: The sophisticated technical design of the closure ensures it is claimed to outperform comparable substitute products. With a larger opening angle than competitors - particularly compared to products from Z-Moulds - it enhances user-friendliness. Customers benefit from easier handling, providing a real advantage, especially for high-consumption products. Manufacturing technology: The closure is made from high-quality HDPE and is designed for production with moulds ranging from singlecavity up to 128-cavities. It boasts a short cycle time of around 3 s. This efficiency enables high production capacity while maintaining consistent quality. Automated manufacturing centres fit seamlessly into the wooden facade. CAPS & CLOSURES

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