Insight Focus
Food safety is crucial in PET packaging. Certification schemes like BRCGS Packaging Materials provide a trusted benchmark, assuring brand owners and regulators that quality systems are in place. Beyond compliance, certification boosts trust, sustainability and innovation.
Ask anyone in the PET packaging sector what keeps brand owners awake at night, and food safety will almost always be near the top of the list. From carbonated drinks to ready meals, if packaging doesn’t tick every box for consistency and compliance, it simply won’t make it past the first hurdle.
That’s where certification schemes like the BRCGS Packaging Materials come in. Think of certificates as the industry’s shared language—a quick way to show that the fundamentals of product safety, legality and quality are all in place. Instead of brands having to reinvent the wheel with every new supplier, third-party audits provide a reliable benchmark everyone can understand.
Kirsty Mumford, commercial manager at Pont Packaging Ltd., says, “Food safety certification gives assurance not just to regulators, but also to brand owners navigating different markets. It proves that systems are robust and measurable, which builds confidence for customers and helps cut down on endless repeat audits across supply chains.”
The details behind certification aren’t glamorous, but they are vital. Scheduled internal audits, training logs, and even pest control records all play a part. These layers of detail build the framework that allows PET converters and their customers to get on with challenges like hitting recycled content targets, meeting tethered closure deadlines, and driving down carbon footprints.
Certification also contributes to sustainability (shocker!). As Kirsty adds, “By certifying production sites to a shared standard, companies can streamline compliance, reduce duplication and allow brands to focus resources on innovation instead of repetitive checks.”
For the PET industry, food safety certification has become an entry requirement. Retailers and FMCG brands are increasingly demanding proof before you even get to pitch, so it’s far better to get your ducks in a row early. The upside is that it levels the playing field, allowing companies to compete on innovation, service, and value rather than basic compliance.
Food safety certification is a quiet hero in the background of PET packaging. As Kirsty concludes, “Certification ensures that good practices are ingrained in daily operations. It supports consistency, builds trust, and allows the whole industry to move forward together.”
