Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has started injection molding preforms for PET bottles — some of which have recycled PET content — at its facility in Grigny, France. The company has invested 16 million euros ($21.7 million) in the capacity to produce preforms, which will be blow molded at the same site.
CCE's decision to move preform production in-house was due to economic and environmental reasons, including optimizing costs, reducing the volumes transported and controlling finished products, the company said.
"The investment we have made in Grigny illustrates our commitment to produce locally, across all the territories where we operate. This is how we serve our clients and consumers better, whilst affirming our commitment to support the development of a circular economy," said John Brock, chairman and CEO of CCE, a Coca-Cola bottler operating throughout Western Europe.
Preforms for 1.5 liter PET bottles will be made using up to 50% recycled PET. The rPET pellets will be sourced from Infineo, a recycling joint venture between CCE and rigid packaging group APPE, which is based at APPE's facility near Beaune, France.
A joint 8.7 million euro ($11.8 million) investment was made at the Beaune facility in 2013, which increased its capacity by 70 percent from 28,000 metric tons annually to 48,000 of food-grade rPET.
The Infineo project includes an education centre dedicated to the “circular economy”, which aims to host 5,000 young people per year.
Hubert Patricot, European president of CCE, said: "By producing close to places of consumption, we gain agility and flexibility to best meet our customers' demands and our consumers' expectations. With this major investment in our site in Grigny, we reiterate once again our anchor in local communities."
