PETCORE EUROPE Launches Initiative to Standardize Food Safety Testing in the PET Industry

Currently, the absence of international standards results in laboratories operating independently with varying methods, leading to a fragmented understanding of the substances present along the PET value chain. This inconsistency hampers the industry’s ability to identify food safety risks early on. Establishing uniform testing methodologies is essential for closing these gaps and fostering informed food safety decisions.

GeNi aims to facilitate collaboration by creating a centralized platform for interlaboratory data sharing. This approach will allow the PET industry to benchmark performance, share best practices, and achieve greater consistency in testing procedures.

The need for such collaboration is pressing. With an increasing number of substances in plastics under scrutiny from regulators, consumers, and NGOs, as well as rising recycled content targets, the PET industry faces challenges in traceability, risk assessment, and compliance. A unified understanding of substance presence is critical for proactive industry action.

In partnership with KÖR, GeNi opens its platform to the entire PET value chain, including laboratories, experts, brand owners, and recyclers. PETCORE EUROPE is leading this initiative, leveraging its position within the industry, while KÖR provides the necessary tools for collecting, anonymizing, and analyzing testing data.

GeNi aims to transform disjointed testing data into valuable insights, enabling the industry to collectively identify substances present within its products and address potential risks before new regulations are implemented. This collaborative approach intends to enhance food safety and safeguard human health.

Raphaël Jaumotte from PETCORE EUROPE stated that GeNi exemplifies the potential outcomes of industry cooperation, allowing for improved risk identification and better-informed safety decisions. Bernd Schwarz, Chief Chemical Officer at KÖR, emphasized that this initiative creates a bridge between data silos, enabling the PET industry to synthesize fragmented information and address packaging safety concerns effectively.