What is rPET?
rPET, short for recycled polyethylene terephthalate, refers to any PET material that comes from a recycled source rather than the original, unprocessed petrochemical feedstock.
Originally, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a thermoplastic polymer that is lightweight, durable, transparent, safe, shatterproof, and highly recyclable. Its safety is primarily evident in terms of being eligible for food contact, resistant to microorganisms, biologically inert if ingested, corrosion-free, and resistant to shattering that may be particularly harmful.
It is commonly used as packaging material for foods and beverages – mostly found in transparent bottles. Yet, it has also found its way into the textile industry, usually referred to by its family name, polyester.
Why should we recycle PET?
Sometimes, our greatest strengths can beget our greatest weaknesses. For PET, its high durability means it takes five to seven centuries for it to begin to break down if it ends up in landfills. This low degradation rate, alongside the increasing volume of PET production, has rendered it a contributor to the plastic waste crisis the world is facing today.
How is PET recycled?
There are many elements that go into the process of recycling PET, and we must understand how recycling is actually done to make sure that everyone does their part in our efforts towards sustainability.
The process of recycling PET is made of 5 consecutive stages:
- Disposal
- Collection and initial separation
- Shredding, separation, cleaning, and sorting
- Mixing and formulating additives
- Reactive compounding