Tackling plastic pollution

Join Friends of Zero Waste

Together, we can end plastic pollution.

Friends of Zero Waste, a global PET plastic industry collaboration, supports the efforts of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop the first international plastic pollution treaty in order to reduce plastic pollution, improve waste management, and build a circular economy.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, universally recognized by the #1 resin identification code, is critical to achieving those ends. 

Why? Because PET differs from other plastics. As the most recycled plastic in the world, food-safe PET bottles and containers are made to be remade. They may be single-serve, but they are never single-use, because PET is fully and endlessly recyclable and can be made with up to 100% recycled content. PET plastic has the lowest emissions compared to aluminum and glass because PET is lightweight and uses less energy to produce and transport. 

More than 50% of PET is recycled globally, more than any other plastic, but the PET industry wants to do more, with your help. 

Please join Friends of Zero Waste to spread the word about PET recycling. 

The second part of the fifth session, INC-5.2, is taking place in Geneva right now. It is imperative that treaty negotiators have the facts:

  • PET packaging is an integral and important part of the global economy, capable of delivering massive economic benefits thanks to its combination of low cost, versatility, durability, and high strength-to-weight ratio.
  • Recycling works as a key mechanism for reducing plastic pollution, which is why we need more of it. Recycling PET reduces plastic waste, keeps plastic out of landfills, and contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy. 
  • There are no chemicals of concern with PET. The safety of a product packaged in PET extends beyond the shatterproof and resealable bottle. PET is approved for food contact by the United States Food & Drug Administration, Health Canada, the European Food Safety Authority, and food safety agencies worldwide. No Phthalates, BPA, or PFAS are used in the production or processing of PET bottles.
  • Friends of Zero Waste generally supports the key tenets of the treaty: international collaboration, regulatory support, and sustainable practices. Specifically, we support well-designed:
  • Together, these systems help accelerate and perpetuate a circular economy, reduce the need to create new PET plastic, and enable governments and brands to achieve aggressive environmental targets. We know that these systems need PET, an essential element to that equation.

Friends of Zero Waste is eager to continue working with the government and other stakeholders to improve the disposal, collection, and recycling of PET plastic. We are equally committed to helping INC negotiators develop an equitable, environmentally sound, and scientifically driven framework to end plastic pollution. 

Click below for more information, and then share with your network. Join Friends of Zero Waste in spreading the word that PET plastic is a crucial part of the solution to end plastic waste. 

POLITICO: Three Steps to End Plastic WastePlastic Pollution Treaty Brief and RecommendationsPET fact sheets and videos

How is PET different from other plastics? Is PET more sustainable than alternatives? What role can PET play in ending plastic waste? Click here to get these answers and more.