Forum PET Europe, representing the interests of the European PET bottle industry, has been established to unify the interests of national PET bottle associations and represent the entire supply chain, from resin production, machinery, bottle manufacturing and recycling, until end of life. Founding members are the PET associations of France (Elipso, Paris; www.elipso.org) and Germany (IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen, Bad Homburg; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) and Portuguese packaging producer Logoplaste (Cascais; www.logoplaste.com).

Forum PET Europe said its principal goals are to create an innovation-friendly environment for PET bottles, to promote high quality recycling and to minimise reputation risks. It further intends to act as a platform for the discussion of market and regulatory issues in the EU as well as to communicate with relevant stakeholders.

Jean-Marc Rostagno, director northern Europe of APPE (Wrexham / UK; www.appepackaging.com), formerly Artenius PET Packaging (see Plasteurope.com of 30.11.2010), has been appointed president of Forum PET Europe. Rostagno began his career in strategic consulting before holding senior executive positions in several major companies of the packaging industry including Crown, Ball, Constantia Flexibles, and US Can. Marcel de Botton, chairman of Logoplaste was elected vice president of the federation.

Further council members are Françoise Gerardi, General Manager of Elipso, and Jürgen Bruder, Director General of IK.