Eastman and Doloop have partnered to introduce a 100% recycled PET (rPET) beverage bottle at Drinktec 2025. This collaboration showcases a significant step forward in sustainable packaging.
In a landmark move poised to reshape the beverage packaging landscape, global materials innovator Eastman and PET packaging frontrunner Doloop have announced a transformative partnership. The two companies are set to unveil a groundbreaking 100% recycled PET (rPET) beverage bottle at Drinktec 2025, a premier trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry. This innovation represents a major leap toward a truly circular economy in packaging.
The star of this collaboration is the beverage bottle itself, which is produced entirely from Eastman’s Eastar™ Renew EN031. This isn't just any recycled material; it's a chemically recycled PET that boasts performance and quality equivalent to virgin resin. This technological breakthrough addresses one of the primary challenges in adopting recycled content at scale: maintaining the pristine clarity, purity, and structural integrity that consumers and brands expect. By leveraging chemical recycling, Eastman is able to break down PET plastic into its fundamental molecular building blocks, which can then be reassembled into new, high-quality material. This process effectively allows for an infinite loop of recycling, unlike mechanical recycling, which can degrade the plastic with each cycle.
Doloop, with its decades of expertise in manufacturing preforms and PET bottles, is the ideal partner to bring this vision to life. The company's deep-seated knowledge and manufacturing prowess allow it to seamlessly integrate Eastman's innovative resin into high-performance beverage packaging. According to Dovydas Stulpinas, CEO of Doloop, "Partnering with Eastman enables us to offer the beverage industry a solution that meets the highest sustainability and quality standards." Stulpinas added that the bottle’s clarity and feel will be a highlight for attendees at Drinktec, demonstrating that sustainability doesn't have to come at the cost of quality.
This collaboration is a testament to the power of cross-industry partnerships in accelerating the transition to a circular economy. Eric Dehouck, managing director of Eastman’s circular economy platform, underscored this point, stating, "Innovation has positioned Eastman to lead, but collaboration is essential for plastic packaging to become circular." Dehouck highlighted that such supplier relationships are crucial for preparing the market to meet both existing and future regulations on recycled content.
The timing of this announcement is particularly strategic, as regions like the Nordic countries, with advanced deposit-return systems, are seeing a rapid increase in demand for high-quality recycled content.
