In response to the increasing popularity of PET, Starlinger developed the recoSTAR PET iV+ technology in 2003. The process takes production waste from PET preforms or washed PET flakes from collected bottles, recycling them into melt-filtered amorphous PET pellets or – in combination with a semi-continuous solid state polycondensation process (SSP)  – into crystalline pellets with properties like those of new material (e.g. IV > 0,82, acetaldehyde AA < 1 ppm). Already in June 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a Non-Objection Letter for the entire process including SSP, certifying the suitability of the reprocessed pellets from the process for use in applications with direct food contact.

The challenge test demonstrated the extraordinary decontamination capabilities of the Starlinger recoSTAR PET iV+, even when 100% contaminated material is used. This effect is obtained by subjecting the material to optimum temperature and vacuum conditions in the reactor for a specified amount of time.