What Science Tells Us About PET Plastic

Public attention on microplastics has surged in recent years. Concern about environmental pollution and human health is legitimate, and continued research is essential. At the same time, it is important that public discussions reflect the strength of the underlying science.

PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate, universally recognized by the #1 on its packaging) has been studied extensively for decades and used safely in food and beverage packaging for more than 40 years. It is approved for food contact by major regulatory authorities around the world following rigorous scientific evaluation. Yet discussions about plastics often overlook this body of research and the strict regulatory processes that determine material safety. Decades of scientific study and regulatory review consistently demonstrate that PET is a safe, stable material used to protect food and beverages and support public health.

Let’s minimize human and environmental exposure to microplastics by properly disposing of recyclable materials and advocating for better collection infrastructure.

With that in mind, it is important to revisit what the scientific record shows us:

1. PET is the most widely recycled plastic in the world, and one of the few packaging materials designed for true closed-loop recycling, meaning a used PET bottle can be collected, processed, and remade into a new bottle without losing its essential performance characteristics.
2. Both recycled and non-recycled, virgin (new) PET plastic are approved for food contact by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, the European Food Safety Authority, and food safety agencies worldwide, following extensive safety evaluations.
3. Non-recycled, virgin (new) PET plastic does not contain bisphenols, phthalates, dioxins, lead, cadmium, or endocrine disruptors.
4. Beverage and water bottles made from PET plastic and tap water follow the same safety and quality standards developed by the FDA to ensure public health protection.
5. Research has shown that leaving a PET bottle in a hot car for a month will not result in unsafe levels of chemical exposure.
6. Major global health authorities have stated that there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate human health risks from microplastics.
7. Research on microplastics has been ongoing for decades.
8. Microplastic exposure is extremely small; estimates show humans ingest approximately 184 nanograms per person per day (0.000000184 grams). At that rate, it would take tens of thousands of years to equal the weight of a credit card.
9. Per the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), tire abrasion, city dust, and road markings all make up a significant amount of the known microplastics released into our environment.
10. Microplastics are just one subset of the many microscopic particles found in air and dust, and research shows plastics make up a very small fraction of overall airborne particulate matter, which is primarily composed of natural and non-plastic sources.

NAPCOR has regularly emphasized that credible conclusions require credible science. To explore fact-based insights on PET, its role in the circular economy, and solutions for keeping plastic out of landfills and the environment, visit napcor.com/resources.