25 YEARS ANNIVERSARY 19 PETplanet Insider Vol. 25 No. 05/24 www.petpla.net to offset the losses.” How would the material loss in recycling be balanced? Kauertz: In fact, the Schwarz Group does not rely on virgin PET for the production of the analysed containers. We verified this during the study’s development by examining documents. Certainly, there are material losses in the collection and processing of used PET single-use bottles, and we have accounted for these losses in the LCA. The study explicitly states at the outset that it examined the Schwarz Group’s circular system. If the Federal Environment Agency takes this into account, it might clarify its statement and focus on the overall market. Then, the statement would be accurate in acknowledging that not all bottles can always consist of 100% rPET if the market is not to shrink. The average rPET content in Germany is still below 50%. There is still plenty of room for improvement, and much material flows into non-recyclable applications, lost to the circular economy. Therefore, there is ample “space” for other highly optimised PET bottles. In the long term, an average rPET content of up to 90% should be achievable if the material can be kept within the bottle cycle. This is also demonstrated by another study published last year by GVM on behalf of Coca-Cola. PETplanet: You yourself point out in your study that the system optimised by the Schwarz Group with 100% rPET cannot represent the entire industry. How does a bottle with a 25% rPET content, as will be mandatory on average in the EU next year, compare? Kauertz: Primary material production is one of the key drivers of the life-cycle assessment of PET bottles. Therefore, all relevant factors such as weight reduction, the use of secondary materials, or the reuse of containers impact this stage of the lifecycle. Reducing the secondary material content from 100% to 25% introduces significant environmental burdens. PETplanet: How do you assess the market development regarding the availability of rPET for the bottling sector? Kauertz: We hear different statements on this matter. Actors who have focused on long-term partnerships and high integration levels across the entire value chain in their procurement strategy seem to have fewer issues with material sourcing than others. Fundamentally, we observe significant competition for secondary materials among various sectors. The textile industry, for instance, has substantial demand for rPET and can offer higher prices. From a LCA perspective, we always advocate that the material should go where it has the highest probability of being recycled again.
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