PET industry launches shared platform for food contact safety data

The European PET industry has launched a new initiative designed to bring together testing data from across the plastics supply chain in an effort to improve understanding of substances found in packaging and strengthen food safety.

PETCORE EUROPE, the European association representing the full PET value chain, has launched GeNi in collaboration with KÖR. The initiative will provide a central platform for laboratories, experts, brand owners and recyclers to share and analyse interlaboratory data on food contact substances.

The move comes as the industry faces increasing scrutiny of chemicals and other substances found in plastics, while targets for recycled content continue to increase.

Tackling fragmented testing

There are currently no international standards governing the testing of food contact substances across the PET value chain. Laboratories therefore use different methods and approaches, making it difficult to compare results and establish a consistent picture of which substances are present.

According to PETCORE EUROPE, this fragmentation creates gaps in food safety knowledge and can make it harder to identify potential risks at an early stage.

GeNi is intended to address the problem by acting as a neutral and centralised hub for interlaboratory data. By bringing testing results together, the initiative aims to help laboratories benchmark their performance, identify best practices and improve the comparability of results.

The longer-term goal is greater harmonisation of testing approaches and a stronger evidence base for food safety decisions.

Building a shared evidence base

The initiative is being launched as regulators, consumers and non-governmental organisations increase their focus on substances used in plastics. At the same time, higher recycled content targets are creating additional challenges around traceability, risk assessment and regulatory compliance.

PETCORE EUROPE says establishing a clearer picture of the substances present across the PET value chain could help companies identify potential concerns earlier and respond before regulatory requirements are introduced.

The organisation is hoping that GeNi can be used as an industry-wide platform rather than a tool for individual laboratories or companies. The initiative will bring together organisations from different parts of the supply chain to build a collective evidence base.

GeNi is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. By bringing our collective testing data together, we can build a clearer picture of what is present across the PET value chain, identify potential risks earlier and make better-informed decisions that improve food safety and support human health.”

Raphaël Jaumotte, Technical Manager, PETCORE EUROPE

 

Turning data into insight

KÖR will support the collection, anonymisation and analysis of testing data through its platform, while PETCORE EUROPE will lead the initiative from its position representing the PET value chain.

“At KÖR, we believe that data should be a bridge, not a barrier,” said Bernd Schwarz, Chief Chemical Officer at KÖR. ”GeNi gives the PET industry the tools to turn fragmented data into a collective understanding of what is in our packaging, and what we need to do about it.”

The initiative’s developers say the value of GeNi won’t solely be for creating greater consistency between laboratories. By combining data from across the sector, the platform is intended to provide proactive insights into the substances present in PET packaging and help the industry make decisions based on a broader evidence base.

The initiative comes at a time when the use of recycled PET is expanding and the chemical composition of packaging is receiving greater attention. Its effectiveness will ultimately depend on the breadth and quality of data contributed by participants and the extent to which shared findings can translate into more consistent testing and improved food safety practices.