Technically called polyethylene terephthalate, rPET is a thermoformable material that contributes very little impact on the carbon footprint. The uses of rPET cover a wide and growing range of industries but its exceptionally important to the food industry. Thanks to its characteristics, rPET is resistant to heat but at the same time protects against the cold, and is highly flexible and very lightweight. It is also highly resistant to breakage and has a lower production cost than other materials, which means lower water and energy consumption.
Recycling plastic is a vital task for the sustainability of the planet. Its environmental impact is devastating, given that a large part of its materials is not biodegradable and also polluting to our ecosystem. As for landfills, in many of them plastic contributes to the release into the atmosphere of methane, a gas as destructive as carbon dioxide. According to data from the United Nations (UN), each kilogram of recycled plastic avoids the emission into the atmosphere of around 1.5 kilograms of CO2.
Although this data alone would already serve to justify why it is necessary to bet globally on plastic recycling, there are other very important benefits, such as reducing the negative impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, saving in electricity consumption and of non-renewable fossil origin, or, from the economic point of view, savings in households, since recycled plastic can allow many products to have a significantly lower final cost for consumers.
One of the most important characteristics of PET is that it is fully recyclable. This type of plastic can be recycled through different types of procedures, although mechanical recycling is the most used. After being recycled, it gives rise to a material called rPET that has multiple applications in sectors such as food and beverages or the pharmaceutical segment. Through a unique process, rPET pellets and rPE are generated that can be used again in the food industry with trays and containers made of multilayer PET/PE sheets; in bottles for soft drinks or detergents, and in fibers for the textile and automobile industry.
From the environmental point of view, the use of this type of plastic favors recycling, and stimulates a lower consumption of resources for the manufacture of containers or for their logistic distribution.
These are some of the main advantages of using rPET:
- Significantly reduces the use of fossil fuels, generates less carbon footprint in its manufacture than other materials and is fully recyclable.
- It is strong, flexible and, above all, lightweight. This last characteristic is important for its transportation, as it has a lower environmental impact in its logistics than other materials.
- It has a higher chemical and thermal resistance.
- Allows the consumer to see what is inside as it is transparent.
- It has a high resistance to abrasion.
- It has good resistance to breakage.
- It is easy to clean.
- Its production cost is significantly lower than that of other materials, which implies lower water and energy consumption.
There is a growing awareness among people and companies of the importance of recycling plastic to prevent it from having a single use and thus reduce its negative impact on the environment. However, efforts will continue to be required from the government and other areas of the public sphere to increase the levels of recycling of this material.
It is everyone’s task to contribute to a more sustainable and cleaner world, Pass the Honey is doing this one comb at a time.
