For over a year, French consumers have become accustomed to the solidarity cap on plastic bottles, a small but notable change mandated by European regulations to combat plastic pollution. While this change sparked initial debate and perhaps some usability issues, it represented only the first wave of a much broader transformation affecting the beverage industry. A far less visible, but potentially more impactful, change arrived this year. Also stemming from European directives, the new standard fundamentally alters the composition of plastic bottles themselves, with consequences that extend from supermarket shelves to our wallets, and ultimately, to the health of our planet.
The solidarity cap: a reminder and its significance
The solidarity cap, initially greeted with some skepticism, represented a crucial first step in the fight against plastic pollution at the European level. Many consumers questioned its practicality, finding it awkward for pouring or drinking. However, the environmental rationale was undeniable:
Before this change, detached bottle caps were a significant source of plastic waste, often ending up in waterways and oceans, contributing to the pervasive problem of plastic and microplastic pollution. These small, seemingly insignificant pieces of plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose, harming marine life and entering the food chain.
The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) mandated the integral cap design to improve collection and recycling rates. By ensuring the cap remains attached to the bottle, the likelihood of it being properly disposed of and recycled increases significantly. This measure was designed as part of a broader strategy, and this year comes with stricter rules regarding plastic bottles.
rPET takes center stage
The change that has taken place since 1 January 2025 is less immediately noticeable to consumers, but it represents a fundamental shift in the manufacture of plastic bottles. This new regulation, also derived from the European SUPD directive, requires all single-use plastic drinks bottles sold in the EU to be made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and contain a minimum of 25% recycled PET (rPET). This percentage includes the entire bottle, including the cap. This requirement increases to 30% rPET by 2030.
This is not just a suggestion, but a legal obligation. The goal is ambitious: to significantly reduce dependence on virgin plastic (plastic made directly from fossil fuels) and stimulate the market for recycled plastics. The EU has ambitious targets: it aims to achieve an 80% reduction in single-use plastic bottle consumption by the end of 2026 (compared to 2022 levels), and a further 90% reduction by 2030.
Brands have gotten ahead
Many major beverage brands in France were already incorporating rPET into their bottles before the 2025 deadline. This is partly due to growing consumer awareness and demand for more sustainable packaging, and partly to proactive corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Large companies such as Danone (Evian, Volvic), Nestlé Waters (Vittel, Perrier), and Coca-Cola had already made significant investments in the production and integration of rPET. However, it is crucial to note that “already using rPET” does not necessarily mean reaching the 25% threshold. Some brands may have been using lower percentages, or only in some of their products. The 2025 legal obligation standardizes the rules and guarantees a minimum commitment from all market players.
Rising prices: an inevitable consequence?
This is where this “silent revolution” risks becoming a little less silent for the consumer. Food-grade rPET is increasingly in demand, which is leading to an increase in its price. In addition to higher demand, other factors are contributing to this increase:
The recycling infrastructure for transforming bottles into high-purity food-grade rPET is not yet sufficiently developed to meet growing demand. Food-grade rPET must meet strict purity and safety standards to be reused in beverage packaging. Achieving this quality requires more sophisticated sorting and processing processes, which increases costs. Furthermore, demand for rPET is not limited to France. Other European countries, as well as companies around the world, are seeking to secure their supply of rPET, intensifying competition and driving up prices.
In the longer term, the EU is considering extending recycled content requirements to other types of plastics, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). These plastics are commonly used in other types of food packaging, but their recycling is more complex than PET. Chemical recycling, an emerging technology, could play a crucial role in transforming these plastics into reusable materials. However, this technique is still at a relatively early stage of development and requires significant investments in research and infrastructure. These additional costs could, over time, be reflected in the price of packaging.
Faced with these challenges, reducing overall plastic packaging consumption remains the most effective solution for limiting environmental impact and controlling costs. And this is where the consumer has a key role to play: favoring plastic-free alternatives remains the least expensive and cleanest solution!
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