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PETcore Europe, KÖR Launch Initiative to Harmonize PET Food Contact Materials Safety Testing
PETcore Europe and Kör have launched GeNi, an industry initiative intended to bring together testing data from across the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) value chain to improve the monitoring of food contact substances and support greater harmonization of testing approaches.
According to PETcore Europe, laboratories currently use differing methods and approaches for testing food contact substances, and no international standards are in place. The organization said this fragmentation limits the PET industry’s ability to develop a shared understanding of substances present across the value chain and identify potential food safety risks.
GeNi is intended to serve as a centralized hub for interlaboratory data, enabling participants to benchmark testing performance, identify best practices, improve data comparability, and support greater consistency in testing methods.
GeNi to Aggregate PET Food Contact Testing Data
The initiative is being launched amid increasing scrutiny of substances in plastics and rising recycled-content targets, which PETcore Europe said have created challenges related to traceability, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance.
GeNi will include laboratories, technical experts, brand owners, recyclers, and other stakeholders across the PET value chain. PETcore Europe will lead the initiative, while Kör's platform will facilitate the collection, anonymization, and analysis of testing data.
By aggregating testing results, the organizations said GeNi is intended to develop a broader picture of substances present throughout the PET value chain and provide information that can support food safety decision-making.
Food Contact Materials Testing and Compliance
Kör's work includes food contact materials testing and compliance. Through its KÖR LABS digital platform, the company connects organizations with a network of accredited laboratories and provides access to testing methodologies and benchmarking capabilities.
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According to Kör, the platform is also intended to help companies demonstrate compliance with packaging requirements through standardized and comparable testing results. Kör operates in ten countries and reported that its network includes more than 3,000 industrial partners, including laboratories, universities, and research institutions.
PETcore Europe’s membership includes more than 160 companies and nine associations representing PET producers, recyclers, converters, brand owners, technology suppliers, waste management companies, retailers, and other stakeholders.
