01 / MATERIAL BASICS
Recycled content and recycling after use
In this comparison, PET means virgin PET; rPET means PET recovered through recycling. Recycled content describes the material entering a product. Recyclability concerns whether packaging can be collected and processed after use. Evaluate them separately, including the lid, label and film. Terminology reference: FTC.
For a SEAL project, material percentages and sources are confirmed per SKU. PET photographs can illustrate an rPET packaging shape; photographs do not establish recycled content.
02 / PROCUREMENT DECISIONS
Compare the specification you will buy
| Criterion | rPET | PET virgin |
|---|---|---|
| Brand requirement | For projects specifying recycled PET content. | For projects whose specification calls for virgin PET. |
| Material evidence | Request recycled percentage, feedstock source and SKU-specific material records. | Request the PET grade identity and SKU-specific material records. |
| Samples & appearance | Agree reference samples for clarity, colour, weight and dimensions. | Use the same sample criteria for a fair comparison. |
| Cup/bowl + closure | Test the complete system: rim, lid or film, closure and handling. | Record the lid pairing and specifications of your current packaging. |
| Conditions of use | Validate the contents, filling temperature, storage and contact duration. | Validate intended use against the grade and product specification. |
| Recycling plan | Check whether local collectors and processors accept the finished packaging format. | Check whether local collectors and processors accept the finished packaging format. |
| Commercial quotation | Compare the cup/bowl, lid, decoration, packing, delivery and volume per SKU. | Use an equivalent quotation scope as your baseline. |
03 / APPLICATION FIT
Material documents must match the intended use
For recycled plastics in food contact, the recycling process and intended conditions of use need evaluation. Food type, temperature and contact duration are among the information considered by FDA. Use this reference to frame your technical questions for a supplier. FDA technical reference.
SEAL’s rPET program focuses on cold drinks and chilled foods such as salads and fruit. Hot filling, reheating or microwave use requires a separate specification and validation. Physical testing through the group QC laboratory supports material evaluation; food-contact records and recycled-content evidence remain separate checks.
04 / SAMPLES TO SUPPLY
A packaging transition with agreed reference points
Map your current packaging
Share a sample or drawing, dimensions, contents, closure pairing, artwork, volume per SKU and delivery locations.
Set material targets & acceptance criteria
Agree recycled-content requirements, food-contact evidence, dimensional tolerances, appearance and functional requirements.
Evaluate samples together
Use group QC laboratory support for an appropriate test plan: dimensions, weight, capacity, top-load, handling, lid fit and print review. Methods and acceptance limits are set for your SKU.
Approve the specification, then plan supply
Once samples are approved, confirm the quotation, MOQ, production schedule, QC reference and repeat-order forecast in writing.
SEAL works through joint operation, with a dedicated line and SEAL-owned molds. Your project can also draw on the Dermapack group’s QC laboratory capabilities, with a test plan tailored to the selected cup or bowl.
Questions before switching to rPET
Does rPET mean 100% recycled content?
rPET means recycled PET. The percentage in the finished product must be confirmed through the specification and material documents for that SKU. Cups, bowls, lids and films can have different compositions.
Can a photograph distinguish PET from rPET?
A photograph of a clear cup does not establish the source or percentage of recycled content. Use material records and approved samples to verify the product you are ordering.
Can we use our existing lids on a new rPET cup?
Compatibility needs testing, including rim dimensions, closure profile, closing force and handling conditions. The same nominal diameter alone is insufficient to approve a cup and lid pairing.
How does SEAL support an rPET project?
SEAL supplies rPET cups and bowls through joint operation, a dedicated line and SEAL-owned molds, supported by the Dermapack group’s QC laboratory capabilities. Material specifications, testing, samples and supply are agreed per project.