When you put a plastic bottle in your yellow bin, an incredible journey of transformation begins, which may well lead to the production of a new plastic bottle at our factory at Laboratoires Pichot. Let’s take a look at the origins of our RPET bottles, made in France.
Every PET bottle you put in yourrecycling bin begins a journey towards a second life. In France, the collection rate for plastic bottles currently stands at70% — encouraging, but there is room for improvement compared to the 95% achieved by our German neighbours (deposit-return system).
The collected packaging arrives at a sorting centre where it is sorted by material type:
This separation is crucial for producing food-grade RPET.
Sorted bottles undergo several processes at recycling plants:
These RPET flakes are processed into RPET pelletsvia extrusion. It is in this form that Laboratoires Pichot receives the raw material used to produce our recycled pill boxes and eco-friendly plastic bottles.
Based in the Livradois-Forez region, we processseveral dozen tonnes of French RPET every year into:
Bottles for food supplements
Cosmetic rPET bottles
Recycled pharmaceutical packaging
High-quality recycled pill dispensers
Our expertise has led us to develop the firstsingle-material, 100% RPET packaging:
As a manufacturer of plastic bottles, we must be extremely selective when it comes to raw materials:
| Criterion | Exigence |
|---|---|
| Type de RPET | RPET crystal uniquement (bouteilles transparentes) |
| Purity level | > 99,5 % |
| Absence de PVC | Not suitable for PET recycling — zero tolerance |
| Organoleptic assessment | Prevents any transfer of odours into the packaged product |
| Drying | Removal of residual moisture prior to processing |
| Filtration | Removal of any remaining impurities before shaping |
Look for technical expertise in RPET processing, full traceability of raw materials, quality certifications (ISO, food contact), geographical proximity and the ability to provide personalised support from design through to delivery.
Yes, food-grade RPET is authorised for food contact in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2022/1616. We carry out systematic analyses of each batch to ensure compliance.
The mechanical properties are identical. RPET has a slight bluish or greenish tint, depending on the quality of the recycled material. It offers a 75% reduction in the carbon footprint compared to virgin PET, with full traceability of the material.