As part of our Finalist Interview series ahead of the Sustainability Awards, we spoke to SIPA about its XFORM RENEW technology for rPET preforming, said to cut emissions and boost output, nominated in the Commercialized Machinery category.
You’re a finalist in the Sustainability Awards 2025. Congratulations! To start off, could you summarize your entry, in less than 50 words?
XFORM RENEW converts washed PET flakes directly into high-quality preforms, eliminating pelletizing. Its high-cavity tooling - up to 200 cavities - enables ultra-efficient production, making rPET preforms far more economically viable. This innovation cuts emissions, boosts output, and drives the circular economy forward with a smarter, more sustainable approach to plastic packaging.
Why do you think the judges were impressed with your entry? Tell us about what is innovative about your project and/or about its impact on packaging sustainability.
We believe the judges were likely impressed by our entry because XFORM Renew represents a true breakthrough in sustainable packaging technology. Unlike traditional PET recycling, which involves multiple energy-intensive steps - melting, cooling, cutting, drying, and remelting - XFORM Renew eliminates the entire pelletizing stage. This innovation not only simplifies the process but also delivers outstanding environmental benefits.
By directly converting washed PET flakes into high-quality preforms, XFORM Renew reduces CO2 emissions. Electricity consumption drops by 30%, and the simplified thermal history results in superior preform aesthetics and clarity.
From a financial standpoint, the system lowers total cost of ownership by up to 35% thanks to reduced energy use, cheaper flake material, and lower logistics costs. Featuring tooling of up to 200 cavities, it makes high-volume rPET preform production economically viable - aligning performance with sustainability.
Our independently verified LCA data confirms a 79% reduction in global warming potential. With less than 6% of PET currently returning to bottle-to-bottle applications, XFORM Renew is more than a machine - it’s a key enabler of the circular economy. It gives the industry a practical, scalable path to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
Finally, can you tell us about the ongoing development of your project, e.g. how your innovation/initiative has been received by the industry, or what the next steps are in commercialization/product development?
The XFORM Renew project has been met with significant positive reception from the market. This is primarily due to its innovative approach of integrating a well-established and proven preform production technology with advanced recycling capabilities.
A key aspect of our strategy has been our long-standing partnership with EREMA, the Austrian market leader in recycling technology. This collaboration ensures that the recycling component of the XFORM Renew system leverages cutting-edge and reliable processes.
Looking ahead to the next steps in commercialization and product development, we are focused on the installation of industrial systems. These will be deployed at the facilities of our customer, who will utilize them for the large-scale production of preforms for the beverage market. This initiative will serve as a crucial demonstration of the economic viability and sustainable advantages of SIPA’s plant in a real-world, high-volume production environment.
The winners of the Sustainability Awards 2025 will be announced at the Sustainable Packaging Summit, taking place in Utrecht on 10-12 November. The Summit mobilizes leaders of the FMCG value chain, policymakers, NGOs, recyclers and investors to collaborate, remove barriers and identify opportunities on the road to sustainable transformation.
To learn more or register, visit: https://www.packagingsummit.earth/2025
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