Krones joins the EU’s Circular Economy Initiative

• The Krones Group has joined the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.
• The initiative set up by the European Commission progresses the establishment of a pan-European circular economy.
• As a member of the platform, Krones has entered into a self-imposed commitment to eight targets.

A network for prime movers: the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform brings together companies and initiatives proactively engaged in creating a circular European economy. It was set up by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee with the declared goal of closing material cycles and thus putting in place a firm foundation for a more sustainable future.

As a high-tech company that has signed up to developing eco-friendly technology for recyclable packaging, Krones not only sees this project’s goals as strikingly similar to its own aspirations but can even make a substantial contribution towards turning the vision of a closed-loop recycling economy into hands-on reality. That is why Krones joined the platform and entered into a self-imposed commitment to the following eight targets: 

1. rPET compatibility

By 2025, it will be possible on all new PET bottling lines to handle bottles made of up to 100 per cent high-grade recyclate without any impairment to production quality, efficiency or efficacy.

2. Plastic-free secondary packaging

By 2022, Krones will offer alternative secondary-packaging solutions containing no single-use plastics whatsoever for all multipack formats in common use. 

3. Support for recyclable packaging design

Krones uses its technological expertise to support clients in designing forms of packaging that are optimally suited for recycling. 

4. Changing over from linear production to circular economy

Clients get the support they need in order to achieve optimum results on existing lines, too, when handling recycled and/or renewable materials.

5. Permanently attached closures

Equipment is already available that enables tethered caps (= closures permanently attached to the bottle) to be used. 

6. Sustainable labelling

For optimum recycling results, Krones’ portfolio includes packaging solutions where labels can be removed from the empty container without any problems. The long-term goal is to recycle the labels together with the containers – or do entirely without a separate material for container decoration.

7. Investing in recycling

Upgrading Krones’ solutions for material recycling of packaging plastics (solid/flexible, PET, polyolefins and PS) is further progressed by continually investing in the relevant research and development projects.

8. Beyond PET packaging

Above and beyond conventional PET solutions, Krones is proactively pursuing development projects connected with disruptive technologies that take beverages to the consumer in innovative ways (packaging-free solutions, paper bottle). 

For Krones, joining the pan-EU platform is the logical extension of the course of action it has already embarked on: to render both consumption and production of foods and beverages as sustainable as possible.