# PET resin

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

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/

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
 Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · Foundation · Matter

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 MEG**0.86 t PTA, 0.335 t MEG
2. 2 **Polycondensation**Antimony catalyst at about 280 C
3. 3 **Solid-stating**200-220 C for 10-20 hours
4. 4 **Preform, bottle**Stretch blow moulded at the filler
5. 5 **Recycling**Washed flake to rPET or fibre
 Covered in [The chemical industry: what it makes and how it is organisedChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/chem-industry-map/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/pet/links/index.md)