PET (1)

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is a type of plastic often used in bottles and is captured as PET (1) in WikiWaste.

PET (1) plastic is the most widely recycled of all the plastic polymers and is often used in clear plastic bottles^[1] such as in plastic drinks and water bottles, fizzy drinks bottles, mouthwash bottles, shampoo, liquid hand soap and window cleaner bottles for instance^[1]. It is also abbreviated to PETE. It is a clear, strong and light weight plastic that is widely used for packaging foods and beverages. Special grades of PET (1) are used for carry home take-away food containers and prepared food trays that can be warmed in the oven or microwave^[2].

PET (1) can be recycled into polyester fabric and filling for fleeces, carpets and cushion fillings^[1].

The basic building blocks of PET (1) are ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, which are combined to form a polymer chain. The resulting spaghetti-like strands of PET are extruded, quickly cooled, and cut into small pellets. The resin pellets are then heated to a molten liquid that can be easily extruded or molded into items of practically any shape^[2].

PET (1) was first synthesized in North America in the mid-1940s by DuPont chemists searching for new synthetic fibers. DuPont later branded its PET fibre as "Dacron." Today, more than half of the world's synthetic fibre is made from PET (1), which is called "polyester" when used for fibre or fabric applications. When used for containers and other purposes, it is called PET or PET resin^[2].

In the late 1950s, researchers found a way to stretch a thin extruded sheet of PET in two directions to create PET film, which is now used extensively for video, photo and packaging films. In the early 1970s, the technology was developed for blow-stretch molding PET into bottles. The PET bottle was patented in 1973.

Due to it's unique properties, PET (1) is rapidly becoming the world's preferred packaging material for foods and beverages. Like glass, it is a very strong and inert material that does not react with foods, is resistant to attack by micro-organisms, and will not biologically degrade. But unlike glass, PET (1) is extremely lightweight, easy and efficient to transport, and shatterproof^[2].

PET (1) can be commercially recycled thorough washing and re-melting, or by chemically breaking it down to its component materials to make new PET resin and as such is one of the most recyled plastics worldwide^[2].

Products commonly made from recycled PET (1) include new PET bottles and jars, carpet, clothing, industrial strapping, rope, automotive parts, fiberfill for winter jackets and sleeping bags, construction materials, and protective packaging.