Royce Universal scales up food-grade rPET recycling to drive circular packaging in Thailand

THAILAND – Royce Universal Co., Ltd., a leading Thai manufacturer of plastic products, is expanding its rPET recycling capabilities with new operations focused on post-consumer PET bottle collection in southern Thailand.

The company aims to bolster its efforts in sustainable packaging by producing high-quality, food-contact-grade recycled PET pellets under its “PetaRoyce” brand.

With an annual recycling capacity of 15,000 tonnes, Royce Universal converts PET bottle flakes into rPET sheets and certified food-grade pellets.

The company invested in Starlinger’s RecoStar PET 165 HC iV+ recycling system in 2023. Located at its Nakhon Pathom Province facility, about 50 km from Bangkok, the advanced line processes up to 1,800 kg of PET flakes per hour into food-safe rPET, certified by global regulatory bodies including the FDA and EFSA.

Royce supplies the recycled pellets to both domestic and international brand owners and beverage producers in countries such as the US, Australia, and Japan.

The material is widely used for packaging mineral water, soft drinks, and other consumer products.

Touchawatt Techamongkoljit, CEO of Royce Universal, said, “Our goal is to recycle as much plastic waste as possible. With PET bottle-to-bottle recycling, we avoid downcycling and help create a circular and sustainable economy. Through various partnerships in Thailand, we’re working towards a truly circular model.”

As part of its latest initiative, Royce will collect and process PET waste in southern Thailand, then ship the resulting rPET pellets for packaging applications within the region.

The company is also developing a blockchain-based traceability system to enhance transparency and support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), helping combat greenwashing and promote responsible recycling.

Founded in 1970 as Thai Creative Lighting Co., Ltd., the company evolved through the decades, eventually becoming Royce Universal Co., Ltd. in 2000.

After a major restructuring in 2020, Royce consolidated its business units under one corporate umbrella, with core focuses on furniture and houseware, building materials, packaging, and rPET production.

Today, Royce operates three manufacturing sites in Sam Phran, employs over 500 people, and continues to invest in sustainable technologies to drive the future of circular packaging.

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