By Plasteurope.com staff

On behalf of the Euro Plant Tray cooperative (EPT, Berlin, Germany; www.europlanttray.com), production of reusable polypropylene plant trays is starting at Bekuplast (Ringe, Germany; www.bekuplast.com). The first 1.5 mn trays are to be injection-moulded by the end of the year.

Bekuplast plans to start with the production of the EPT 775 transport trays for eight to ten plant pots with diameters of 10.5 cm to 13 cm. Preparations are also underway for the production of three further models, which are scheduled to go into series production in December 2024. The cooperative is relying on various manufacturers. According to EPT, the aim is to have around 6 mn of the green reusable trays in circulation when the market launch officially begins next year.

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The cooperative has 30 members from Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, including DIY stores, garden centres, and wholesalers. EPT offers numerous rental models for their reusable trays. The company says that the launch is a response to the introduction of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will ban the use of single-use plastic packaging in B2B transport in Europe from 2030.