A series of commercial trials to assess the use of recycled PET plastic (rPET) in retail packaging is being funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). Involving a number of the UK‘‘s leading brands and retailers, it is the first time that rPET will be used in such a large number of high profile, high volume product lines.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, Marks & Spencer and Boots are among the big name companies involved in the far-reaching programme of work. London Remade, in partnership with Closed Loop London, will be leading the Marks & Spencer and Boots projects, adding technical and recycling expertise to the retailers‘‘ experience in packaging.

Robert Pascoe, Managing Director of Closed Loop London, explained: "The trials will be the first of their kind in the UK, addressing consumer and industry perceptions, technical performance and cost implications alongside the actual application of recycled PET in packaging. We firmly believe that by using recycled PET in packaging and creating a strong local demand recovery rates will increase from below 10% as they currently stand to greater than 50% as is achieved in many other countries. The funding provided by WRAP will enable this co-ordinated trial to take place with key industry players on a larger scale than would otherwise have been possible. "

The research should lead to a direct increase in the amount of rPET used in the UK. Currently, PET is used for a significant proportion of plastic bottles and increasingly in other types of packaging. In 2003, 250,000 tonnes of PET was used in the UK, of which around 15,000 tonnes of PET bottles (500 million) were recycled across Britain. Very little of this went back into UK packaging production, however, and the project aims to help close the loop by encouraging steady market demand for the material.

Over 2,000 tonnes of rPET is expected to be used in the initial trials and each partner is planning to continue using the material after the trials have ended, providing the results are positive. The final conclusions will be publicly disseminated and the successful outcomes will be used to promote the wider adoption of rPET in retail packaging.

Two of the three trials involve food and beverage packaging. Adhering strictly to food contact regulations, these are designed to prove the safety and suitability of rPET, which is regularly used in food contact packaging in other countries but only to a very limited extent in the UK.

Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd will trial the use of rPET in a range of bottles for both carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks. The recycled material will be thoroughly tested for both performance and consumer appeal over a six month period, during which the products will be on national distribution.

"Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd is pleased to be working with WRAP, using our experience of processing recycled PET elsewhere in the world to explore the potential market for recycled packaging material in the UK," said a Coca-Cola spokesperson. "The project permits us the opportunity to investigate a range of new materials, establish that they meet our stringent processing and quality standards and provide confidence about the viability of recycling."

Working together with London Remade and Closed Loop London, Marks & Spencer will use rPET in a selection of their food and beverage packaging lines, including juice and smoothie drinks bottles and prepared salad bowls. The trial packaging will be clearly labelled as containing recycled plastic and consumer attitudes and perceptions will be tested using market research as part of the project.

Providing the opportunity to research the use of rPET in a non-food sector, Boots will be trialling the use of the material in bottles used in personal care products. Capitalising on Boots‘‘ in-house development, manufacturing and pr