Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET for short, is one of the most widely used consumer plastics in the world. It also happens to be the most recycled plastic globally. We might not be doing a good job recycling plastic in general, but we seem to be doing extremely well with PET. From plastic water bottles to take-out food packaging, tons of PET get recycled every year.
So what happens to all those PET plastic bottles we recycle? What happens to all those food containers? For starters, companies like Tennessee-based Seraphim Plastics use a mechanical recycling process to reduce PET waste to small pellets or flakes. The pellets and flakes are then melted down to make new products. Many types of products can be made with 100% recycled PET.
According to Seraphim Plastics, here are just 5 types of products commonly manufactured with recycled PET:
1. Polyester Rugs and Carpets
Polyester is a polymer with its roots in ethylene. It is also a form of PET. Both synthetic and organic polyester are widely used in rug and carpet manufacturing. But as it turns out, recycled PET also works well for this application. Rug and carpet manufacturers now use more recycled PET than ever before.
There is a very good chance that at least some of the PET bottles you have recycled during your lifetime have ultimately ended up in rugs or carpets. The very carpet your feet are resting on now probably has some recycled PET in it.
2. Insulation Materials
Threads and fibers made from recycled PET work extremely well as an insulator. So much so that a lot of modern, non-woven insulation materials are manufactured from it. They include sleeping bag insulation. If you are an avid camper with a modern sleeping bag, the chances are rather good that its insulation is at least partially made with recycled PET.
3. Clothing and Shoes
Recycled PET can be shredded, melted down, and used to create small fibers. From those fibers we can make threads that eventually become fabrics. And what do those fabrics become? Clothing and shoes. Yes indeed, you could be wearing recycled PET right now.
PET-based fabrics are incredibly durable yet still flexible and comfortable. They are less affected by water, temperature extremes, and other environmental variables. Best of all, there are things you can do with PET-based fabrics that you cannot do with cotton, wool, etc.
4. Backpacks, Tote Bags, Etc.
As long as we’re talking about PET fabrics, we might just as well bring up the many different types of bags we carry. Take the humble backpack. Just about every kid has one. Adults appreciate them too. It is not uncommon for modern backpacks to be made from fabrics based on recycled PET.
The same can be said for purses, shoulder bags, certain types of luggage, computer bags, and so on. They are all perfect candidates for fabrics based in recycle PET.
5. Automotive Parts
The automotive industry is a big customer for recycle PET. All sorts of automotive parts can be made with it. For the most part, automakers focus on dashboard panels, door panels, and a variety of small, interior components. Battery cases are also good candidates for recycled PET.
PET is the most recycled plastic in the world because it has so many valuable uses. You have read about just five in this post. But don’t forget that recycled bottles can be turned into new bottles. The nature of PET makes it extremely friendly for continuous recycling. Too bad we don’t do the same with other plastics.