Understanding PET Bottles & How It Is Better Than Glass, Metal or Aluminum Containers

Understanding PET Bottles & How It Is Better Than Glass, Metal or Aluminum Containers

Plastic, being a super versatile and strong material, has its own place in various industries. Even though plastic has it set of pros, still this dependency is an inexcusable habit that is wrecking our planet

In 2021, 44.7% of single-serve beverage packaging in the US and 12% of all solid waste produced worldwide were made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Recycled PET is a much-preferred packaging material because of its single-layer, mono-material composition and its numerous environmental advantages.

Data taken from Euromonitor International (London, England) indicates that 67% of the market share for water, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, tea, and coffee is held by PET bottles. PET is proven to make up 44.7% of single-serve beverage packaging for bottles of less than 1 liter in the US in 2021. On the other hand, glass makes up 11% of the total, aluminum cans 39%, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) 3.4.

Why PET is the preferred material for packaging

The fact that PET is 100% recyclable and very sustainable is one of the main reasons why so many manufacturers favor it. It is recyclable multiple times and can be used to make packaging for personal care goods, carpet and garment fibers, automobile parts, building supplies, industrial strapping, and other packaging materials.

• PET bottles vs Glass bottles

Though glass bottles can be reused n-number of times, over time, glass becomes a hub for growing biofilms. PET containers are lightweight unlike glass, easy to transport, & commercially more viable. They also have a lower carbon footprint during manufacturing making it much more durable.

• PET bottles vs Stainless Steel bottles

Numerous advantages favor stainless steel bottles. They survive longer than glass or plastic, mostly because of their resistance to corrosion. However, even steel bottles can develop biofilm layers, which are considerably harder to observe because they are not opaque. PET is significantly lighter than steel making it easy to transport. Additionally, steel is far more expensive to produce than PET, making it economically viable for commercial manufacture. 

• PET bottles vs Aluminum cans

Aluminum is a great material for containers as 75% of the aluminum produced to date is still in use and is more recyclable than stainless steel and lighter than aluminum. Despite being lightweight and unbreakable, aluminum is still not as popular as PET. The process of extracting aluminum from the rock known as bauxite, from which it is manufactured, is difficult and can have a significantly greater negative impact on ecosystems than the production of plastics.

Conclusion:

It has been 30 years since the FDA first started approving PCR PET production procedures as acceptable for use in the United States in the production of food-contact PCR PET. The use of recycled PET in beverage bottles has increased as a result of governmental regulations, brand sustainability goals, and growing public awareness. By recycling PET bottles back into PET beverage containers, businesses have been progressively advancing towards a circular plastic economy and reducing their reliance on virgin or new plastic. At Go Rewise, our Starlinger technology has received USFDA and EFSA approval, and one of the first businesses in India to advance in this way is Go Rewise!