Dear Readers,

As I write these lines, I am still buzzing from all the impressions I gained at PETnology Europe 2025. The conference’s vibrancy once again highlighted the importance of personal interaction and collaborative discussion of technical, economic, and sustainability-driven innovations for our industry. Intensive dialogue between all stakeholders in the PET packaging industry demonstrates: PET has a bright future, provided we continue to collaborate as a network.solutions.

The focus of the upcoming major international trade fairs – drinktec 2025 in Munich and K 2025 in Düsseldorf – will be the intelligent combination of the circular economy, digitalisation and technological and material innovations.

We expect new impulses for PET recycling systems – for both mechanical and chemical recycling, highly efficient injection moulding technologies in the preform and closure sector, and digitised processing methods and systems for quality and process monitoring. The goal remains the same: to make PET solutions even more efficient and sustainable. Both trade fairs will also focus in particular on the question of how rPET can be used economically and ecologically in large volumes.

drinktec 2025 will showcase the latest developments in filling technologies, stretch blow moulding machines, and smart packaging solutions for the beverage industry. The focus will be on the modularisation, energy efficiency and digitalisation of filling lines, as well as trends such as the ‘no label look’, directto-bottle printing and advanced aseptic technologies.

One particularly exciting question is how digital product passports (DPPs) could be integrated into PET packaging. These could transform both supply chains and recycling. Although not yet widely implemented, initial pilot projects are underway. In the near future, DPPs are expected to become a key tool for promoting transparency and efficiency in the circular economy for plastics – and will probably become a regulatory requirement.

Meanwhile, market dynamics remain in motion. In Q1 of 2025, demand for European PET resin reportedly fell, while the use of rPET continued to rise. Pricing pressure remains intense in Asia due to the ongoing oversupply of Chinese PET granulates, which continues to affect margins in Europe. At the same time, energy prices and regulatory demands, particularly those relating to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), are pushing production costs upwards in Europe.

We will keep our finger on the pulse of PET technology.

Stay tuned! Recommend us!

Yours,

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Appel

PETnology/tecPET GmbH

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