PET: Enabling a Circular Economy

PET plays a critical role in food packaging by ensuring product safety while supporting circularity and climate efficiency.

From beverage bottles to food-grade thermoforms, PET contributes to:

        • High safety and hygiene standards
        • Recyclability-Circularity and resource efficiency
        • Reduced environmental impact through continuous innovation

Robust Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is essential to demonstrate these benefits and support alignment with EU ambitions for 2025, 2030, and climate neutrality by 2050.

Supporting Better Environmental Decision-Making Across the PET Value Chain

The LCA Working Group supports PETCORE EUROPE members in understanding and assessing the environmental impact of PET across its full value chain.

While LCA is not currently mandated by legislation, it is widely recognised as the most robust and comprehensive methodology to evaluate the environmental implications of materials, products, and system changes. It enables informed, data-driven decisions and ensures that sustainability improvements are based on measurable outcomes rather than assumptions.

In the context of evolving EU policies and increasing scrutiny on environmental claims, LCA plays a critical role in ensuring credibility, consistency, and transparency.

Focus & Objectives

The LCA Working Group is focused on enabling the PET value chain to:

        • Understand the importance and application of LCA in assessing environmental performance
        • Access expert knowledge and guidance on LCA methodologies and interpretation
        • Validate the environmental impact of innovations and system changes across the PET lifecycle
        • Support credible sustainability communication with harmonised, science-based data

A key enabler of this work is the PETCORE EUROPE LCA Tool, which provides members with a practical and robust solution to perform consistent and reliable assessments.

In addition, the Working Group:

        • Monitors external studies and environmental claims
        • Provides clarity on methodologies and assumptions used in the market
        • Supports alignment across the industry on key environmental indicators

Who Participates

The Working Group brings together:

        • LCA specialists
        • Sustainability and environmental experts
        • Representatives from PETCORE EUROPE members across the PET value chain

It operates with the support of PETCORE EUROPE’s technical and management team.

 

PETCORE EUROPE LCA Tool

A Robust and Regulatory-Aligned Solution

To support its members, PETCORE EUROPE has developed the PETCORE LCA Tool, in collaboration with Pilario. This dedicated LCA solution provides a comprehensive, scientifically validated approach to assessing environmental performance across the full lifecycle—from raw materials to recycling.

Key Features

        • Independently third-party reviewed
        • Based on certified LCA methodologies
        • Fully aligned with key EU frameworks:
          • Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
          • EU Taxonomy
          • GHG Protocol (Scopes 1, 2 & 3)
          • Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
        • Calculation of:
          • Product Carbon Footprint
          • 12 additional environmental impact indicators
        • Advanced scenario modelling, including:
          • PET vs alternative materials
          • Virgin vs recycled content
          • Collection systems (e.g. DRS vs curbside)
        • Coverage of:
          • PET bottles (clear, coloured and opaque)
          • PET thermoforms
          • Additives
          • Mechanical & chemical recycling
          • Reuse systems
        • Customised, member-specific results (no reliance on generic averages)
        • Automated LCA reports for internal and external use

Member Benefits

        • Cost-effective alternative to consultancy-driven LCAs
        • Access to reliable, regulatory-ready environmental data
        • Applicable across the entire PET value chain
        • Supports decision-making, reporting, and communication

Access & Subscription

The PETCORE EUROPE LCA Tool is exclusively available to PETCORE members, and they are invited to:

        • Subscribe to the tool
        • Benefit from a one-month free access period
        • Explore its full capabilities for sustainability reporting and strategic decision-making

 

To apply for Working Group membership and to get an overview on the membership fees, please contact us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..