Benefits of PET Plastic Bottles

Monday, May 20, 2019

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Have you ever glanced at the bottom of a product in a plastic bottle or jar to see what it’s made out of? There’s a strong chance you have encountered one made from polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET). It’s strong, break resistant, and be as clear as glass bottles or jars. PET makes an excellent choice as a material in many industries. Factors such as its chemical resistance, strength-to-weight ratio, shatterproof properties, and low-cost to product make it an accessible solution for consumable product packaging.

Advantages of Using PET Plastic Bottles

First, we would like to clear up a few common misconceptions about plastic bottles.

• Some plastic bottles are not recyclable
• Yes, there are recycling and waste management companies that have restrictions on certain plastic products, but overall you should be able to recycle any plastic product that you purchase from a grocery store. This includes the single-use bags!
• Plastic creates the most litter
• It’s actually cigarette butts that are the most common piece of litter in the world. While it’s unfortunate to see plastic in the environment, it can always be picked up and recycled.
• Plastic bottles and food containers cause cancer
• This myth started as a viral email and has since spread. There has yet to be a current link to this myth based on current evidence and scientific studies over the last 10 years

PET plastic bottles have many advantages for not only the products being stored but also for the consumer and environment. Some of these advantages include:

Energy savings:

• PET packaging uses significantly less energy and natural resources during the manufacturing process compared to glass packaging production. This includes fossil fuels and water

Recyclable:

• Did you know that 100% of PET plastic bottles can be recycled? Through modern advancements in manufacturing technology plastic bottles have been redesigned to be 30% lighter, reducing the amount of plastic used to make them.

Chemical resistance:

• PET creates a strong barrier with the outside environment allowing little to no oxygen passthrough. It does not react with water nor food, making it perfect for packaging consumable goods

Shatterproof:

• Unlike glass, PET plastic it will not break or shatter. This makes it a safer option than a glass container. This also makes it safer and cheaper to transport once filled.

Flexibility:

• Since PET can be molded into different shapes at a lower cost than glass, it makes it easier for brands to have a distinctive packing design to identify and promote their products and help stand out of the store shelf

Why is PET Suitable for Plastic Bottles?

PET is a popular choice for plastic bottles because of unrivaled strength-to-weight ratio, cost reduction, and transportation savings compared glass counterparts, and it’s track record for safety and reliability for consumer products.

From the onset of the manufacturing process, PET engineered to be a strong, yet pliable material that allows for its use in several different types of plastic bottles and containers. It is important to note that each bottle is tested and carefully monitored to meet safety standards. By using compounds such as PET, we can have safe plastic bottle containers that save energy throughout manufacturing, are economical to make and are also recyclable and sustainable.

Is PET Plastic Safe?

PET plastic is a safe packaging material for many food and beverage products. PET plastic is approved as safe for food and beverage contact by FDA and similar regulatory bodies around the globe and has stayed that way for more than 30 years. One of the main concerns from the general public has been the “leeching” of chemicals from plastic bottles into the products they are consuming. As part of its assessment, the FDA checks for the transfer of plastic components and other substances to the liquid contents of the bottle, which has been within safe standards.

Other safety concerns include:

Phthalates:

• PET is not and does not contain phthalates. Although it contains the suffix -thalate, phthalates are not used in the manufacture of PET plastic bottles.

Endocrine disruptors in plastics:

• Contrary to popular belief, PET plastics do not contain endocrine disruptors.

Heat can cause dioxins to release from plastic:

• PET plastics do not contain dioxins, nor do they create them when heated in the microwave or left in the car on a hot day. Additionally, dioxins cannot be formed without the presence of chlorine, which PET plastics do not contain.

Reusing plastic water bottles:

• PET water bottles and containers can often be reused. However, water bottles labeled for single-use should be appropriately disposed of and recycled.

In summary, PET is the most widely trusted plastic for direct to consumer goods. There are many reasons why so many companies and brands use it. It’s strength and flexibility compared to glass. It’s cheaper to produce and transport before and after bottling.

Packaging Options Direct offers a variety of PET products. Shop our entire category of PET plastic bottles and jars. If you have any questions regarding PET and your product give us a call or shoot us an email. We are happy to assist!