EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 27 No. 01+02/26 www.petpla.net 10 Shaping a circular future for plastics by Heike Fischer My final interview, marking the conclusion of my trip to Brussels, took place at the non-profit organisation Plarebel, dedicated to advancing the circular economy for plastics. Founded in 1999, it has evolved into a leading centre of expertise and influence in the field of plastic recycling, circular design, and sustainable waste management. Based in Brussels, Plarebel works with partners across the private, public, and institutional sectors to support the transition to truly circular plastics - where materials are continuously reused and kept in the economy rather than becoming waste. Editour Interview with Plarebel // May 15, 2025 We talked to Manon Marlier Expert Recycling and Circular Plastics at Plarebel I met with the impressive Ms Manon Marlier. A bioengineer by training, she has been working for six years as an expert in recycling and circular plastics at Plarebel. She told me about the vision on Plarebel. At the heart of Plarebel’s identity is a clear mission: to promote, develop, stimulate, and increase plastic recycling and circularity throughout Belgium and Europe. The organisation strongly believes that plastics, despite often being associated with environmental challenges, are a versatile and valuable material that can play a key role in a circular economy when managed intelligently. Manon emphasises that plastics should not be viewed simply as waste but as a resource with many potential second lives. In this vision, plastics are continuously reused, recycled, and integrated into new products, contributing to sustainable innovation rather than environmental burden. She explains that Plarebel offers a broad range of expertise, services and activities aimed at supporting organisations and companies throughout the entire plastics value chain. According to her, its core strength lies in providing expert information, advice and guidance on all aspects of plastic recycling and circularity, ranging from product design and collection systems to sorting and recycling processes. Plarebel supports Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations with quality control and process optimisation, while also helping companies to integrate circular design principles into their products. Its knowledge base is described as both extensive and highly technical. Manon emphasises that ensuring high-quality recycling is essential. Plarebel works closely with partners to monitor waste streams, verify sorting and processing standards and support traceability throughout the recycling chain. These measures help ensure that plastics are recycled efficiently and effectively, thereby increasing market confidence and improving the usability of recycled materials. In addition, Plarebel focus on circular design and market development. Manon explains that it actively promotes circular design by encouraging product developers and packaging designers to consider recyclability and end-of-life recovery from the earliest stages of product development. At the same time, the organisation explores new markets for recycled plastics in order to stimulate economic demand for high-quality recycled materials. Education, Manon adds, is a central pillar of Plarebel’s activities. They are organising training courses, workshops and awareness-raising events for industry professionals, policymakers and other interested stakeholders. The topics covered reportedly range from sorting technologies and recycling methods to a deeper understanding of EPR systems and consumer behaviour. Partnerships and collaboration Plarebel’s impact is magnified through collaboration. It works closely with a diverse network of partners, including: Fost Plus – the principal partner and Belgian EPR organisation responsible for household packaging recycling, with whom Plarebel has collaborated for over 25 years. European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations (EPRO) – where Plarebel co-chairs technical working groups that promote knowledge exchange and best practice across Europe. Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS) – through a reciprocal membership agreement focused on enhancing circularity for styrenic plastics such as polystyrene packaging. Other partner organisations including Valipac, Valorlux, essenscia, RecyClass, Pack4Food, and VKCCentexbel, each contributing to multidisciplinary efforts to advance plastic recycling and reuse. These collaborations help Plarebel integrate technical innovation with practical solutions, moving beyond theory into real-world applications that improve recycling rates and material quality. Manon conludes that Plarebel stands as a central driving force for circular plastics in Belgium and beyond. With nearly three decades of experience, a strong commitment to collaboration, and a comprehensive suite of expertise-based services, the organisation is helping to transform how plastics are designed, used, and reused. Through knowledge sharing, quality assurance, training, and strategic partnerships, Plarebel continues to make a meaningful contribution to building a sustainable, circular future for plastics across Europe. www.plarebel.be Sponsors
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY0MjI=