40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET in food-contact packaging for the 2026–27 fiscal year, with carry-forward provisions for unmet targets from the previous year. The EU’s Single-Use Plastics Directive and various national “circular economy” laws are also pushing brands to adopt higher r-PET ratios.
For the fresh fruit industry, this shift directly impacts PET punnets, clamshells, and trays used for strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and stone fruits. Leading exporters and retailers now prefer PET boxes with 30–50% PCR content, provided they meet food safety and clarity requirements. However, challenges remain: consistent supply of food-grade r-PET, color consistency, and cost premiums over virgin PET.
In response, PET packaging manufacturers are upgrading recycling lines, investing in sorting and decontamination technologies, and launching “dual-certified” products (food safety + recycled content). Many fruit brands are also redesigning packaging to use less material while maintaining structural strength—thinner-gauge PET with improved impact resistance.
Market data shows the global recycled PET packaging segment is growing at a CAGR of over 5.6% (2026–2031), with fruit packaging as one of the fastest-growing end-use sectors. Companies that can supply high-clarity, food-safe PCR PET fruit boxes will gain a competitive edge in both domestic and export markets.
