Perstorp promotes Akestra polymer for heat-resistant recycled PET food packaging

Perstorp is promoting its Akestra™ polymer for heat-resistant PET food packaging as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) began applying on 12 August 2026. Akestra™ is described as PFAS-free, supporting applications up to 95°C and enabling up to 90% recycled PET content depending on construction. It can be co-extruded with recycled PET, and TCEP has endorsed Akestra™ 100 and 110 for use as external layers in heat-resistant PET trays.

Key facts

Market context

PET is one of the most widely used plastics for food and beverage packaging, valued for clarity, strength and light weight, but standard recycled PET tends to lose heat resistance, which limits its use in hot-fill containers, takeaway trays and similar applications. Demand for packaging of this kind is driven largely by the food service, ready-meal and beverage sectors, and by regulation pushing producers toward higher recycled content and fewer hazardous substances. Specialty polymer layers that can be co-extruded with recycled PET are one way converters can meet heat-tolerance requirements without giving up recycled content. For buyers, such additives and multilayer solutions can shift sourcing decisions between virgin and recycled resin, and for competitors they raise the bar on performance claims, particularly around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which regulators are scrutinizing closely.

Source: official release on perstorp.com. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.