Beverage bottles
Bottles for water, soft drinks, juice, beer and wine.
AI
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene terephthalate is a polyester made from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol – processed into beverage bottles, food packaging, films and fibres.
PET at a glance
Guide values from manufacturer data sheets and technical literature. They vary by grade, additives and manufacturer – the data sheet of the individual material is decisive. The identification number under Decision 97/129/EC is a voluntary identification system for packaging materials.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Repeating unit | –[O–CH₂–CH₂–O–CO–C₆H₄–CO]– |
| Identification number (Decision 97/129/EC) | 1 PET |
| Density | semi-crystalline approx. 1.39–1.40 g/cm³ |
| Crystalline melting range | approx. 245–260 °C (depending on grade) |
| Glass transition temperature | approx. 70–80 °C (dry) |
| Structure | amorphous (transparent) or semi-crystalline (opaque), depending on processing |
| Typical processing | injection moulding of preforms and stretch blow moulding (bottles), extrusion of films and sheets, thermoforming, fibre spinning |
Typical applications of PET
Household products
Bottles for household products.
Food packaging
Trays and packaging for food.
Films
Films and sheets.
Fibres
A large share of PET is processed into fibres, for example for textiles and fleece.
Recycling of PET
- Bottle-to-bottle: Collected PET bottles are recycled into preforms for new bottles.
- Food contact: Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 establishes mechanical PET recycling as a suitable technology; each individual recycling process requires its own authorisation. EFSA has published favourable opinions on over 230 mechanical PET recycling processes. Since 10 July 2023, recycled plastic in food contact materials may only come from a suitable technology.
- Beverage bottles: Under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904, PET beverage bottles contain at least 25 % recycled plastic from 2025, and all beverage bottles of up to 3 l covered contain at least 30 % from 2030 – each calculated as an average per Member State. Separate collection is to reach 77 % of bottles by 2025 and 90 % by 2029.
- Packaging regulation: The PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) has applied since 12 August 2026. Its Article 7 requires, from 1 January 2030 (or three years after the implementing act on the calculation method, whichever is later), 30 % post-consumer recyclate in single-use plastic beverage bottles and 30 % in other contact-sensitive packaging with PET as the major component; from 2040, 65 % and 50 % respectively – calculated per manufacturing plant and year.
PET recyclates with plastship
plastship is a distributor of recycled plastics. The starting point of every sourcing project is not the material – but your application.
Recyclate supply
We clarify processing, product specification, acceptable variations and regulatory requirements, and on that basis define suitable recyclate qualities, feedstocks and supply concepts.
Laboratory services
Physical, mechanical and optical testing, odour and polymer composition – including melt flow rate (MFR), density, moisture and ash content, tensile testing, Charpy impact strength and the identification of foreign polymers.
Material quality
A structured evaluation makes recyclate quality transparent – as a basis for decisions in application, sourcing and compliance.
plastship Monitored Materials
Quality scoring on a scale from 0 to 10 points across mechanics, optics, odour and polymer purity – with material benchmark and certificate of quality.
Digital material search
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More polymers
Polyethylene (PE)
Semi-crystalline polyolefin for films, bottles, crates and pipes.
Polypropylene (PP)
Chemical-resistant polyolefin for packaging, fibres and moulded parts.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Durable thermoplastic for profiles, pipes, flooring and cables.
Polystyrene (PS)
Amorphous thermoplastic for packaging, housings and insulation foam.
Polyamide 6 (PA 6)
Engineering plastic for moulded parts, films, fibres and monofilaments.
All polymers
The six polymer pages at a glance.