Faerch sets standard for tray-to-tray rPET transparency

Faerch has become the first to publish third-party-verified emission factors in the global Sphera database, proving tray-to-tray recycling delivers an 80% carbon saving over virgin PET.

In a move set to transform how food manufacturers calculate their environmental impact, Faerch has announced a global industry first: the publication of a third-party-verified emission factor for its CIRPET+ recycled PET.

The data, now formally integrated into the prestigious Sphera database, provides the trade with the first independently validated evidence of circularity for tray-to-tray recycled materials at an industrial scale.

The verified figures offer a compelling case for shifting away from both virgin plastic and traditional bottle-derived recyclates. The emission factor for CIRPET+ has been confirmed at 0.452 kg CO₂e per kg.

When measured against existing packaging substrates, the climate benefits are stark:

• 80% lower carbon impact than virgin PET.
• 30% lower carbon impact than rPET derived from plastic bottles.

Produced at Faerch’s Cirrec recycling facilities, the material utilises an integrated, closed-loop model. This “tray-to-tray” system ensures that used food packaging is recovered and processed back into food-grade trays, rather than relying on the overstretched supply of recycled bottle flakes.

As food and drink manufacturers face tightening disclosure obligations and growing scrutiny over “green” claims, the inclusion of CIRPET+ in the Sphera database — a primary tool for life cycle assessments (LCAs) — removes significant reporting hurdles.

By providing a trusted, “plug-and-play” dataset, Faerch is enabling brands and retailers to:

• Audit-proof sustainability reports with independently verified data.
• Navigate regulatory pressure surrounding recycled content and circularity.
• Secure supply chains by utilising a dedicated tray-based recycling stream.

“This breakthrough provides brands, retailers, and converters with independently verified evidence of circularity in food packaging, at scale,” the company stated, noting that the move eliminates the ambiguity often associated with recycled material claims.