RCS Group acquires Croatian PET recycler Rekis, enhancing European rPET network, bottle-to-bottle expertise, and circular economy efforts.
Germany-based waste management and recycling specialist RCS Group has acquired a stake in Croatian PET recycling company Rekis, marking a strategic step in its continued expansion across Europe. While the acquisition will formally take effect this autumn, it will be applied retroactively to the start of 2025. Specific financial terms or details of the transaction have not been publicly disclosed by either party.
Over the past ten years, RCS Group has transformed itself from a conventional waste disposal company into a leading player in plastics recycling. Since 2012, the company has been producing recycled PET (rPET) and currently operates two production facilities at its headquarters in Werne, Germany. These plants supply both food-grade and non-food-grade rPET to a wide array of international beverage manufacturers, supporting the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
In 2022, RCS commissioned its second Vacunite bottle-to-bottle system from Austrian machinery specialist Erema. This addition significantly increased the company’s annual rPET production capacity to over 70,000 tons. Building on this growth, RCS is planning a third production site in Nordkirchen to further scale its operations and reinforce its position as a leading European rPET producer.
Rekis, located in Donja Dubrava, Croatia, is a joint venture formed by Austrian beverage producer Steinrieser and the Austrian-Croatian firm KIS Pica. The facility utilizes advanced sorting technology from Sesotec, alongside washing and drying systems supplied by Lindner Washtech, complemented by an in-house laboratory to ensure consistent product quality. Rekis follows a comprehensive process involving sorting, shredding, hot washing, and pelletizing with Erema’s Vacunite system. The facility currently produces approximately 15,000 tons of rPET pellets annually, which are primarily used for manufacturing preforms and bottles.
“For us as a beverage manufacturer, access to high-quality, food-grade rPET is of key importance,” commented Franz Steinrieser, managing director of both Getränkewerke Steinrieser and Rekis. “With Rekis and the involvement of RCS Group, we are combining our strengths and contributing significantly to the circular economy within the European beverage industry.”
The acquisition reinforces RCS Group’s European network and strengthens its expertise in bottle-to-bottle recycling technology. “Rekis shares the same commitment to quality and sustainability as we do: top-level material purity, certified product safety, and a consistently applied circular economy,” said Alexander Rimmer, managing director of RCS Group. “This alignment makes the partnership mutually valuable and sets a strong foundation for future collaboration.”
Through this strategic partnership, both RCS Group and Rekis are positioned to advance sustainable PET recycling in Europe, supporting manufacturers’ sustainability targets while promoting circularity in packaging.
