Ever heard of a PET bottle before? Not sure what it means? As the Australia-wide community (and indeed, the global community) continues to prioritise working towards a more sustainable future, knowing terms like "PET" is becoming increasingly important. Here's a quick guide to what PET bottles are, and the benefits they offer over traditional plastic bottles.
What does PET stand for?
PET is an acronym that stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It's a type of plastic that's frequently used to make containers for beverages - think water bottles, soft drink bottles, and even some types of beer bottles. You might also find it in some food packaging or other types of product packaging.
How did polyethylene terephthalate come about?
This particular type of plastic was first invented back in the 1940s, and it was originally developed for use as textile fibre. It wasn't until the 1970s that PET began to be used for food and beverage packaging - and since then, its popularity has only grown. Why? A few reasons:
What are some of the benefits of using PET bottles over traditional materials?
For starters, they're lightweight, which helps to keep transport costs down
They're also shatter-resistant, making them a safer option than glass bottles (particularly when it comes to carbonated beverages)
PET bottles are easily recyclable - each 15L returnable PET bottle replaces 1400 plastic 600ml bottles over its lifecycle
Because they are so widely recycled, using PET bottles helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill each year
What do recycling codes mean?
You might have noticed that PET bottles have a recycling code of #1. This is because they are made from a single type of plastic, which makes them easier to recycle than other types of bottles (which can be made from multiple types of plastic).
The bottom line
PET bottles offer a number of benefits over traditional plastic or glass bottles - and as the world continues to focus on sustainability, they're only going to become more popular. So next time you reach for a water bottle, make sure it's made from PET!
