For 12 years, PET to PET has helped to ensure a complete and resource-saving recycling of PET bottles in Austria. Thanks to continuous expansion and continuous process optimization, today it is one of the most modern PET recycling plants worldwide. Regular visits by foreign delegations confirm the international best practice position. "We are very pleased about the great global interest in our operation and know-how. It is an additional proof of our successful work. In the past year, we were also able to process over 25,000 tonnes of PET material and recover valuable secondary raw material for the production of new PET bottles, "says PET to PET Managing Director Christian Strasser.
In 2018 the PET granulate plant and the PET flake plant were further improved. As a result, the throughput could be significantly increased once again and the quality of the recyclate increased again. In addition, the in-house laboratory was enlarged and a new spacious recreation area was created for employees.
Collective appeal to Austrians
PET is one of the highest quality packaging materials, it meets the highest demands of the food industry. All the more important is a sustainable use. With PET to PET, the successful joint project of leading Austrian beverage producers, the beverage industry created the best possible conditions 12 years ago. In addition, the proportion of recyclate in new PET bottles is continuously increased.
"We ask the Austrians to continue their dedicated and conscientious separation of PET bottles or to collect them sorted. Even though three out of four PET bottles are currently being collected and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner, we can still grow together here. Every PET bottle should and must - in the interests of environmental protection and resource conservation - land again in the recycling cycle and be processed into valuable secondary raw material, "Strasser said with an appeal to the public.
From old to new
In the case of PET to PET, the PET bottles supplied - after manual inspection and sorting - are comminuted to flakes in a mill and subsequently washed. Afterwards, the most modern processing methods are used in Müllendorf. In two different processing lines, either PET flakes or PET granules are produced - each with the highest food-grade quality. Both types of recyclate are used in the production of new PET beverage bottles, depending on specific production requirements and to achieve the highest possible recycled content.
Outlook 2019: Further improvements
For the coming year PET to PET is focusing on targeted investments in order to further increase the quantity and quality of the recycled material or raw material for PET bottles. Planned are improvements in the area of car wash and flake sorting. "In addition to a high standard of morality of the Austrians, consistent development is the key to success when it comes to achieving the goals of the EU circular economy package. We are on a good way, "concludes Strasser.
