PET resin

PET resin: the clear polyester of drinks bottles, food trays and films, and the most recycled plastic, with India mandating recycled content.

Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · No. 50

• Single chemical
• Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
• about 27-30 Mt a year of PET resin (2024-2025, indicative: Plastics Europe PET share of about 6.2% of 430.9 Mt gives about 27 Mt; MEG tile basis of 28% x 35 Mt MEG at 0.335 t per t gives about 29 Mt)
• 2.2 t CO₂e per t
• HS 390761

A 500 ml water bottle can weigh under 10 grams, yet it is strong enough to hold fizzy drinks.

Chart: Illustration: PET resin

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

PTA and MEG are reacted and polymerised under vacuum, then the chips are slowly heated for 10-20 hours to lengthen the chains for bottle strength.

Three things to know

1. Bottle-grade capacity was about 34.7 Mt in 2022, with over 10 Mt more announced for 2022-2025, 6.5 Mt of it in China.
2. About 85% of PET's footprint of about 2.2 t CO2e per tonne comes from its two ingredients, PTA and MEG.
3. India requires 30% recycled content in rigid plastic packaging in 2025-26, rising to 60% in 2028-29.

The journey

1. 1 PTA and MEG0.86 t PTA, 0.335 t MEG
2. 2 PolycondensationAntimony catalyst at about 280 C
3. 3 Solid-stating200-220 C for 10-20 hours
4. 4 Preform, bottleStretch blow moulded at the filler
5. 5 RecyclingWashed flake to rPET or fibre

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