PETCORE EUROPE

What PETCORE EUROPE does

PETCORE Europe is a Brussels-headquartered, Belgian-registered international non-profit association (Internationale vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) founded in 1993, representing the complete PET value chain in Europe. The organisation operates as a membership-based industry body with 100+ member companies spanning PET manufacturers and converters, recyclers, equipment and technology suppliers, materials and components suppliers, brand owners and retailers, and EPR schemes. Its core technical platforms include the Tray Circularity Evaluation Platform (TCEP) for PET thermoform recyclability assessment with rapid Quick Test protocols; the European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) for bottle technology evaluation; the PETCORE LCA Tool developed with Pilario for life cycle assessment aligned with CSRD, EU Taxonomy, GHG Protocol, and ESPR; the KÖR Labs Platform for digitised laboratory ordering for food contact material testing; and the GENI Project for industry-wide NIAS and contaminant monitoring. RETRAY certification is delivered via a partnership with Ecosense Foundation.

Name

PETCORE EUROPE

Legal name

PETCORE EUROPE (Internationale vereniging zonder winstoogmerk)

Website

https://petcore-europe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brussels-based non-profit industry association founded in 1993 representing the complete PET value chain in Europe with 100+ member companies, operating technical platforms (TCEP, EPBP, LCA Tool, KÖR Labs) for recyclability, circularity, and regulatory compliance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: PETCORE Europe operates as a membership-based association. Companies across the PET value chain (manufacturers, recyclers, brand owners, equipment suppliers, etc.) pay membership fees to join. Membership fees fund the association's activities including working groups, technical committees, advocacy, conferences, and regulatory engagement. The association also offers certification services through RETRAY (via Ecosense Foundation) and the PETCORE LCA Tool subscription for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PETCORE Europe is a Brussels-based non-profit industry association founded in 1993 that represents the complete PET (polyethylene terephthalate) value chain in Europe. It delivers technical evaluation platforms (TCEP, EPBP, KÖR Labs), life cycle assessment tooling, certification schemes (RETRAY), working groups on recyclability and circularity, regulatory advocacy, and member events to advance PET collection, sorting, recycling, and sustainability standards.

Product overview

PETCORE EUROPE is an industry association representing the complete PET value chain in Europe. It offers a portfolio of platforms and services focused on PET recycling, circularity, and sustainability. The core offerings include the LCA Tool (developed with Pilario for environmental performance assessment), TCEP (Tray Circularity Evaluation Platform) for PET thermoform recyclability, EPBP (European PET Bottle Platform) for bottle technology assessment, and KÖR Labs Platform for laboratory testing digitization. Additional services include the GENI Project for NIAS monitoring, Lab Cluster for analytical method standardization, RETRAY Certification (via Ecosense Foundation), and the Recycle the One communications campaign. The association also organizes events including the annual Thermoforms Conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PETCORE EUROPE LCA Tool Subscription-based Life Cycle Assessment tool providing a scientifically validated approach to evaluating environmental performance across the full PET lifecycle, from raw materials to recycling, aligned with CSRD, EU Taxonomy, GHG Protocol, and ESPR frameworks.
• TCEP (Tray Circularity Evaluation Platform) Industry platform evaluating recyclability and circularity of PET thermoformed containers, providing test protocols, Quick Tests, and European harmonised guidelines for PET tray assessment prior to market launch.
• EPBP (European PET Bottle Platform) Technical platform providing independent, science-based evaluation of PET bottle technologies, materials, and design solutions for compatibility with European collection, sorting, and recycling processes. Supported by NMWE, UNESDA, and PETCORE Europe.
• KÖR Labs Platform Digital platform for referencing laboratories, digitising the ordering process for food contact material testing (NIAS, migration), and standardising results to enable statistical analysis of proficiency tests.
• RETRAY Certification Certification scheme for PET sheet manufacturing, thermoforming, and packaging processes, verifying recycled PET traceability (EN 15343), recycled content quantification, and recyclability compliance with PETCORE Europe Design Guidelines. Delivered through Ecosense Foundation partnership.
• GENI Project Industry-wide monitoring initiative for NIAS (Non-Intentionally Added Substances) and contaminants in food contact packaging, collecting representative data sets for risk assessment and contamination minimisation recommendations.
• Lab Cluster Initiative to establish standardised analytical methods for the PET value chain, involving JRC and the EU Commission, with the goal of creating internationally recognised industry standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 out of 10 PET bottles collected for recycling in Europe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PETSheet Europe (part of EuPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2022PETSheet Europe, as part of EuPC (European Plastics Converters), collaborates with PETCORE Europe in the Functional Barrier Consortium. The consortium undertakes monitoring and verification under EU Regulation 2022/1616 to demonstrate functional barrier safety for food contact applications.
• KÖR GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKÖR Group partnered with PETCORE Europe for the 'PET Pack CEE Forum 2026', a regional event focused on PET packaging circularity in Central and Eastern Europe. The partnership combines PETCORE Europe's industry expertise with KÖR Group's regional network and resources to deliver targeted education on PET recycling and sustainability.
• Ecosense FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosense Foundation (Plastic Sense Foundation) partners with PETCORE Europe to deliver the RETRAY Certification scheme for PET sheet manufacturing, thermoforming, and packaging processes. The certification verifies recycled PET traceability (EN 15343), recycled content quantification, and recyclability compliance with PETCORE Europe Design Guidelines.
• TCEP (Tray Circularity Evaluation Platform) MemberscoreOthersTCEP operates as a consortium within PETCORE Europe where applicant companies submit PET tray innovations for recyclability testing. The platform uses expert evaluation and testing protocols to determine compatibility with European recycling systems.
• EPBP (European PET Bottle Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPBP is supported by NMWE (Natural Mineral Waters Europe), UNESDA (Soft Drinks Europe), and PETCORE Europe. The platform provides independent, science-based evaluation of PET bottle technologies, materials, and design solutions for circularity compatibility.
• PilariocoreTechnology or IntegrationPETCORE Europe collaborated with Pilario to develop the PETCORE LCA Tool, a dedicated Life Cycle Assessment solution for members. Pilario provides the technical platform enabling LCA calculations aligned with regulatory frameworks (CSRD, EU Taxonomy, GHG Protocol, ESPR).
• PING (PET INdustry NIAS Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPING (PRE, UNESDA, NMWE, EUPC, PET Europe, and PETCORE Europe) originally created guidelines for standardized analytical methods. PETCORE Europe's Lab Cluster builds on this foundation to develop industry standards with international recognition aspirations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Natural Mineral Waters Europe (NMWE): European association for bottled water producers, which is a core PET packaging consumer segment and EPBP co-supporter with PETCORE. Both organizations engage on PET bottle recyclability standards and EU policy.
• European Plastics Converters (EuPC): European trade association for plastics converters, including PETSheet Europe which is a direct PETCORE partner. Both organizations operate as Brussels-based value-chain associations engaging on EU circularity policy, with overlapping member bases in PET converting.
• Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE): European association representing plastics recyclers, including PET recyclers like COREPLA and Paprec (which are PETCORE members). Operates in the same Brussels regulatory ecosystem and co-creates initiatives like PING with PETCORE.
• UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe: Brussels-based trade association for European soft drinks producers, which is a major PET bottle consumer segment and co-supports EPBP alongside PETCORE. Both associations work on PET packaging circularity and EU regulatory engagement for beverages.

Emerging players

• COREPLA: Italian national consortium for the collection and recycling of plastic packaging, including PET. Member of PETCORE Europe and operates EPR scheme functionality comparable to PETCORE's PET-focused value-chain coordination.
• Carbios: French enzymatic PET recycling technology company and PETCORE member. Represents the chemical/biological recycling segment that PETCORE's Novel Technologies Consortia is working to integrate under EU 2022/1616.

Others

• Ecosense Foundation (Plastic Sense Foundation): Belgian foundation that operates the RETRAY certification scheme in partnership with PETCORE Europe. Directly comparable as an adjacent industry-body ecosystem player working on PET packaging sustainability certification.

Regional players

• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR): North American counterpart association for plastic recycling standards and design-for-recycling guidance. Operates the US analogue of EPBP design guidelines; comparable mission (PET/packaging recyclability standards) but serves a different geographic market.
• NAPCOR (National Association for PET Container Resources): US-based trade association specifically for the PET container value chain, parallel to PETCORE's PET focus in Europe. Both organizations advance PET recycling infrastructure, design guidance, and industry data on a regional basis.

Broad incumbents

• PlasticsEurope: Brussels-based pan-European plastics industry association representing the broader plastics value chain. Comparable as a peer industry association engaging EU institutions on circularity policy, but with broader polymer scope rather than PET specialization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/petcoreeurope
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxCYtAQG69sLXtzsox6xwAw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/PetcoreEurope
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/petcore-europe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PETCORE EUROPE