Plastipak Opens PET Material Center in Italy with €25 Million Investment

The Verbania facility will manufacture PakPET resin containing 30% recycled content, designed to support packaging quality and processing consistency.

Plastipak Packaging Inc., headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, has opened its PET Material Center in Verbania, Italy. The company has invested more than €25 million (approximately $28 million) in the facility, which manufactures PakPET, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin containing 30% recycled material for packaging applications.

Facility Focuses on Recycled PET Materials

According to Plastipak, the new center strengthens its capabilities in material innovation, resin production and recycling. The company operates five recycling facilities globally, including the newly opened Verbania site.

The facility builds on Plastipak’s experience across recycling, resin production, preform manufacturing and packaging production. The investment is intended to support the recovery and reuse of materials as part of the company’s circular economy activities.

PakPET Combines Virgin PET Performance with Recycled Content

Plastipak’s PakPET is a single-pellet resin formulation that combines virgin PET performance with built-in recycled content. The company says the ready-to-use product is designed to simplify processing and help manufacturers maintain consistent packaging quality and manufacturing efficiency.

“Customers need solutions that make recycled content easier to incorporate while delivering the quality and reliability their operations depend on,” says Pedro Martins, executive managing director, Europe, at Plastipak. “Our PET Material Center in Verbania brings together Plastipak’s materials expertise and manufacturing capabilities to help customers move their packaging goals forward.”

The company says PakPET offers 30% recycled content and drop-in compatibility with existing PET operations, allowing customers to incorporate recycled material without adopting a separate pellet format.

Food-Contact Approval and Traceability

Plastipak states that PakPET has food-contact approval for applicable packaging applications and certified traceability of post-consumer feedstock through EN 15343 certification.

According to the company, the resin can be used in several packaging applications, including food and beverage containers, home and personal care packaging, pharmaceutical packaging and thermoforming.

The opening of the Verbania center adds to Plastipak’s infrastructure for recycled PET materials as packaging manufacturers continue to explore ways to incorporate recycled content into their products.