TOP TALK PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 06/25 www.petpla.net 20 Interview with Christoph Wöss, Director Global Sales at Erema GmbH Will the turnaround start now?by Heike Fischer Some selected media representatives from the plastics industry were invited to the Erema Group for a K’ 2025 preview event at the beginning of June. In their usual friendly and charming manner, the team led by CEO Manfred Hackl answered the journalists’ questions. Christoph Wöss, the newly appointed Director Global Sales and an expert in PET recycling, was unfortunately not on site. That’s why PETplanet is now taking the opportunity to speak with him! PETplanet: Christoph, you’ve just returned from Peru! What was the reason for your trip? Wöss: Hello Heike! As always, it is a pleasure to talk to you about PET recycling and I thank PETplanet for the opportunity to do so in retrospect. Yes, that’s right, I was in Peru the very week of the K’ preview event. I visited a few Erema customers there and the CMT “Circular Plastics Packaging” conference took place in Lima at the same time. It was and will always be important to me in my new position to find out what was actually happening on the ground. My key takeaways from this trip were that there are many good reasons to hope for more recycling in Latin America. On the one hand, many countries there already have EPR schemes, recycling targets and framework conditions that enable the use of rPET for direct food contact. On the other hand, the Latin American industry has repeatedly suffered setbacks in the form of very high inflation, high interest rates on loans and political instability. However, I have taken away a very positive general mood in the packaging industry as a whole and look forward to the next 1-3 years with optimism. PETplanet: What can Erema expect from its new Director Global Sales? Wöss: Erema is preparing intensively for the next leap towards internationalisation process of plastics recycling. On the one hand, this includes streamlining and optimising internal processes so that a copy in other countries works. We took this step over the past one to two years, making good use of the time during the recession that affected certain areas. At the same time, we need locally harmonised strategies that are aligned with the Erema portfolio and our core values. This is exactly where I come in – I want to spread our opportunities and the Erema spirit to our current and future subsidiaries worldwide so that people outside Ansfelden also want to passionately support our mission ‘Another life for plastic - because we care’. PETplanet: Manfred Hackl reported that the financial year 2024/2025 closed with a 13% decline. A 10% decrease is forecast for 2025/2026. At least, things seem to be picking up again. What are the indicators of this slight upturn? Wöss: Despite the currently challenging market environment, we see clear potential for positive developments – on multiple levels. With its technologies and solutions, the Erema Group covers the entire value chain of mechanical plastics recycling. By combining our expertise, we ensure that our customers remain competitive even in a dynamic market environment. This is reflected in our broad product portfolio, high system availability, and the quality of our service. The plastics industry has increasingly recognised that the share of recycled materials in new products must continue to grow to achieve our shared goal of a functioning circular economy. While the European market has been subdued, the Group experienced positive momentum in North America and Asia. Regulations such as the PPWR (packaging and packaging waste directive), which has come into force in the EU, also give a positive outlook in Europe, provided that competitiveness can increase again. This would mean launching initiatives that combine ecological and economic interests and strengthen the industrial base, like the Clean Industrial Deal in the EU. Just as important are global developments that create reliable framework conditions, such as the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and legal requirements for mandatory use of recycled materials in new products. However, we are also increasingly noticing that the plastics industry, especially in Europe is not letting itself get down and that there has been a strong sense of optimism, especially since the last PRSE show in Amsterdam. Even though we are plagued by excessive bureaucratisation here in Europe, the various associations are trying to push Brussels in the right direction. Just to name a few, harmonisation of the PPWR and SUPD and of immanent importance for the rPET market will be, that only PET packaging material that was previously placed in Europe counts towards achieving the recycling targets. This means that imports from third countries must not be counted, and this strengthens the European recycling industry in the long term! Personally, I am absolutely convinced that a true circular economy only works if the cycle remains in its own region. It is important to consider the environmental impact of our actions, and it is counterproductive to discuss recycling if we unnecessarily add to the CO2 emissions of rPET by transporting it over long distances. PETplanet: Erema has established a broad foundation in plastics recycling - the right strategy to create balance when necessary. Has there been one division in particular that has supported the company over the past two years? Wöss: Fortunately, no! And that’s exactly where the strength of Erema and the entire Erema Group lies. Our broad positioning across multiple areas of plastics recycling creates a stable foundation – even in challenging times. Internally, we don’t refer to “divisions”
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