EPBP reinforces clarity and consistency for PET bottle innovations through a new clarification clause in endorsement letters

Brussels, April 1st, 2026.

The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP), an industry initiative dedicated to advancing recyclability-circularity within the PET bottle value chain, announces the introduction of a new clarification clause in its endorsement letters. The initiative responds directly to requests from industry applicants and aims to strengthen clarity and consistency regarding the compatibility of PET bottle innovations with clear PET bottle recycling streams.

Strengthening clarity for applicants and the value chain 

As part of its continuous efforts to support design for recycling and circularity, EPBP will include a standardised statement in its endorsement providing a clearer positioning of the innovation within the EPBP Design Guidelines for Recycling.

This clarification clause will be added to all endorsement letters issued after 1 May 2026. It may also be applied to all endorsement letters that have already been issued. Upon request from applicants, previously issued endorsement letters may therefore be updated to include the clarification clause.

Depending on the outcome of the evaluation and the presence or absence of prerequisites for market implementation, one of the following clauses will be included in the endorsement letter:

• In cases of ‘Conditional Compatibility’ where prerequisites for the innovation launch are required, the following clause will be applied: 

As the endorsement prerequisites are fulfilled, [NAME OF INNOVATION] is classified as having conditional compatibility with PET bottle recycling streams and is therefore positioned in the orange column of the EPBP Design Guidelines for Recycling.

• In cases of ‘Full Compatibility’ where no prerequisites are required for the innovation launch, the following clause will be applied: 

[NAME OF INNOVATION] is classified as having full compatibility with PET bottle recycling streams and is therefore positioned in the green column of the EPBP Design Guidelines for Recycling.”

The addition of this clause does not modify the technical evaluation itself. Instead, it provides an additional level of clarity for stakeholders regarding the practical positioning of the innovation within EPBP’s design-for-recycling framework.

The introduction of this clause is fully aligned with the broader work being carried out at European level to harmonise design-for-recycling criteria. As a liaison organisation to the Technical Committee on Packaging within the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), EPBP plays a direct and active role in shaping the technical discussions that will underpin future harmonised standards for packaging circularity.

Through its continuous technical assessments, EPBP provides concrete, real-world data and practical experience from the entire PET bottle value chain — from packaging producers and technology providers to recyclers. This technical expertise is actively fed into the work of CEN, helping ensure that future harmonised criteria are both technically robust and practically applicable across the European market.

By clarifying the positioning of innovations within its Design Guidelines for Recycling, EPBP further strengthens its role as a key technical reference for the PET bottle value chain and as a trusted contributor to the development of harmonised European standards.

****ENDS****

Note to Editors

For further information, please contact: 

Argiris Dabanlis, argiris.dabanlis@petcore-europe.org

The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) provides PET bottle design guidelines for recycling and circularity and offers PET bottle producers an independent and confidential evaluation of the recyclability-circularity of their packaging solutions and technologies during their R&D phase where adjustments can still be made to mitigate recycling challenges. EPBP also facilitates understanding of the impact of new PET bottle innovation on recycling processes and contributes to the development of harmonised standards through its work with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

EPBP is an industry initiative supported by Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE), PETCORE EUROPE and UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe.

< Back to articles