PET material: what is that?

In our assortment we have various products made from PET material. For example, bottles and pots or even jerrycans can be supplied in PET material. A less well-known application is PET in films and 3D printing, although this is being used frequently around us. PET is perhaps best-known from the returnable bottles from the supermarket, but this fibre is also often used in the textile industry, under the familiar brand name polyester.

Polyethylene terephthalate

It has many different purposes evidently, but what is PET? The abbreviation PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate. Try saying that 3 times fast! PET is a thermoplastic plastic, which means that it becomes soft when heated. If it’s in the form of beads, the heating range is between 80° and 250° Celsius. These beads can be melted to make a product, or there may be more steps to achieve the final product.

Advantages of PET plastic

We mentioned all the products that can be made from PET, but what makes the material so suitable? The following properties of PET are evident:

  • PET is a clear plastic;
  • PET is a very strong material, making it especially suitable for packaging;
  • PET can resist shocks and does not easily tear.
  • PET has barrier properties for gasses, UV and water; the plastic is useful at temperatures from -20° to +60° It is advisable not to heat the final product much as it may warp.
  • PET is available in all colours, transparent and matt.
  • PET is recyclable, making PET a sustainable packaging.

Collection of PET packaging

So it is not strange that we are surrounded by PET products everywhere. Its sustainable nature is increasingly evident, even though we only recycle 10% worldwide. To be able to buy recycled packaging, used packaging must first be collected and broken down to the raw material. The recycled raw material is scarce throughout the entire plastic packaging market. In the coming years we shall have to address that problem globally.

Buying PET packaging?

Do you think that a PET packaging could be a solution for you? Then you have come to the right place at Houweling! Please contact us!

Sources

Plastic Identification Tool | Rijksdienst Cultureel Erfgoed. (undated). Consulted at https://plastic.tool.cultureelerfgoed.nl/plastics/detail/PET

APET (Amorf Polyster) – Plastic Pact NL. (undated). Consulted at https://plasticpact.nl/apet/#page-content