PET Overview for Packagers

Clear PET plastic packaging containers, including a large jar with a blue lid, a beverage bottle with a red cap, a gallon-size jug with handle, a clear bottle, and a small food container.

TRUSTED PACKAGE

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, universally identified by the #1 resin identification code, and recycled PET have been safely used in food, beverage, and other packaging for 50 years. A PET package can contain up to 100 percent recycled PET and can be recycled again and again, over and over, without losing quality. PET does not contain Bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

CONSUMER TRUST

Product visibility: PET packaging excels in providing product visibility, a critical factor in building consumer trust and driving sales. Transparent packaging allows consumers to see the product before purchase. The Packaging School emphasizes the adage “unseen equals unsold,” highlighting the importance of visibility in packaging. 

RECYCLABLE

Made to be remade: Recyclability is a key component of PET sustainability, so be sure your PET packaging innovations—for both bottles and thermoforms (known as trays outside North America)—are recycling-friendly, from the package itself to the caps, seals, liners, labels, and adhesives.

Recycling availability: PET plastic bottles and jars are accepted in virtually all US recycling programs and are recycled at higher rates than any other plastics. 88 percent of US residents have access to PET bottle recycling, with 60 percent having access to non-bottle PET curbside recycling.

SUPERIOR PROPERTIES & PERFORMANCE

Clarity: PET is your silent salesperson, so unleash your brand with the superior clarity of PET. Beverages, produce, bakery products, deli items, and many other products rely on PET to showcase their quality.

Barrier: PET is an inert, safe material with outstanding barrier properties; PET plastic acts as a solid barrier to moisture and microbes, maintaining the quality and safety of food over extended periods. PET is widely used in food and beverage applications to help keep products fresher longer, reducing food waste.  

A photo of a PET plastic water bottle with a blue cap.

SUSTAINABLE PET

Less packaging needed: Since 2000, collaboration within the PET value chain has helped to cut the weight of PET water bottles by 40 percent. This reduces the use of not just PET but also secondary packaging, as well as the fuel used to manufacture and transport the product.

Domestic recycling and reuse: In North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), more than 3 billion pounds of post-consumer PET bottles are collected annually for recycling, with about 994 million pounds of clean, recycled PET going back into domestic production of US bottles in 2024.

Durable: Resistant to stress cracking, PET won’t fracture or break under most applications as compared to other materials.

Functional Design: PET has excellent thermoforming properties, allowing packaging designers to incorporate locking tabs, stacking, and tamper-evident features.