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Guidelines for recyclate use in the food sector

The GKV, BDE and bvse have drawn up joint guidelines to help companies implement the EU requirements.
 

New rules for the use of recyclates that come into contact with foodstuffs have been in force in the European Union since October 10, 2022, with a transition period until mid-2023. The rules of the EU regulation apply directly to companies and replace the previous rules of Commission Regulation No. 282/2008. To help plastics recyclers and processors prepare and implement the requirements in this country, the GKV Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie, the BDE Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Kreislaufwirtschaft and the bvse Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung have published joint guidelines to explain the systematics of the new rules and the requirements for recycled plastics using practical examples with guidance on implementation. "Together with plastics recyclers, we have long advocated for the use of more recycled plastics, including in food contact products. The new regulations will hopefully lead to recyclates other than recycled PET from deposit bottles being used in food packaging in the medium term," says Dr. Martin Engelmann, chief executive of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen and responsible for environmental and consumer protection at the GKV. "Recyclates are also already irreplaceable for products in contact with food, such as PET beverage bottles, and are becoming increasingly important," adds Andreas Bruckschen, deputy managing director of the BDE. Herbert Snell, Vice President of the Plastics Recycling Association in the bvse, explains, "With the guidelines, we want to facilitate the application of the new regulations for plastics recyclers and processors and show ways and means of implementing the regulations, some of which are very complicated." Together, the three associations are calling on the EU Commission to now approve the more than 230 PET recycling processes that have now been assessed as safe, as announced.
 

Further information: to download the guidelines (in German)
 

Sources:

  • euwid-recycling.de (Nov. 28, 2022)
  • plastverarbeiter.de (Nov. 30, 2022)
  • Photo: © IK

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