What is PET?

PET, which stands for polyethylene terephthalate, is a form of polyester. Easily identified by the number 1 on the container, PET bottles and containers have been safely used for packaging beverages, food, personal care products, and household items since the introduction of the first PET bottle in the 1970s.

Packaging designers and manufacturers like PET because it’s safe, strong, transparent, versatile, and helps protect product integrity, freshness, and taste. Consumers choose PET for its clarity, safety, lightweight, resealability, shatter resistance, and endless recyclability.

Multiple studies, including McKinsey & Company, the University of Sheffield, and NAPCOR’s peer-reviewed Life Cycle Analysis conducted by Franklin Associates, have shown that PET plastic packaging is better for our environment compared to alternatives such as aluminum and glass packaging. PET also has a higher recycling rate than any other type of plastic, making it one of the most environmentally friendly packaging solutions available. PET bottles are accepted in virtually all recycling programs in the US; more than 60% of US households also have non-bottle PET recycling available to them, and up to 100% of a PET package can be made from recycled PET, which can, in turn, be recycled again and again.

Tried and Tested for 35+ Years

Products packaged in PET are essential to our daily lives. PET bottles are used for water, soda, and other beverages. Non-bottle PET packages using thermoformed PET—created by shaping and trimming a heated PET plastic sheet into the desired form—include peanut butter, salad dressings, pasta sauce, beer, wine, spirits, produce, deli items, candy, baked goods, and non-food items such as household cleaners and health and beauty products. Click here to learn more about thermoforms and thermoform recycling.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and similar regulating agencies worldwide have approved PET as safe for food and beverage packaging. For more than 35 years, PET has been used to package beverages, food, and other products.

Unlike some other materials, PET does not contain intentionally added Bisphenol A (BPA) or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are known for their potential health risks. By avoiding these harmful substances, PET packaging ensures food remains free from chemical contaminants, providing peace of mind to consumers and manufacturers.

For more on these questions and others, visit our FAQ section.

Technically, What is PET?

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) items referenced are derived from terephthalic acid (or dimethyl terephthalate) and monoethylene glycol, wherein the sum of the terephthalic acid (or dimethyl terephthalate) and monoethylene glycol reacted constitutes at least 90 percent of the mass of monomer reacted to form the polymer. The polymer must exhibit a melting peak temperature between 225°C and 255°C, as identified during the second thermal scan in procedure 10.1 in ASTM D3418 when the sample is heated at a rate of 10°C/minute.