What is RPET ?

What is RPET?

Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (RPET) is simply a plastic made from repurposed waste PET from businesses and consumers. It’s also the material used most commonly by manufacturers to help meet their sustainability goals.

Because PET is so widely recyclable, bottles, food packages and other PET containers are taken and repurposed to create RPET, PCR and other plastics that can be used to make new products without damaging ecosystems and ending up in landfill sites.

Every year, an estimated 7.7 billion plastic water bottles are used in the UK, and 38 billion bottles of water are thrown away annually across the United States – not to mention the 4.9 billion tonnes of plastic waste produced globally already.

Unfortunately, most of these plastic bottles end up in landfill sites and oceans across the globe. This increases the drive to use sustainable RPET materials when manufacturing new products.

How is RPET made?

PET is gathered from various sources like household recycling collection and from business and manufacturing waste.

Recycling plants then sort through the materials – separating the PET plastics from other non-recyclable compounds and removing any contaminants before processing.

The purified PET is shredded into grains of plastics that can be left as they are or heated and pressed into pellets for sale to companies looking to use RPET for future packaging.

What is RPET used for?

RPET is a versatile material that’s proven its worth in many types of products.

Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate is primarily used for food packaging. Because it’s easy to mould and shape, it can be used to make trays, containers, thin sheet packaging and bottles while also being recyclable.

It’s also being increasingly used for clothing. RPET can create polyester – a versatile material used in sportswear, fashion and fabrics as bags and other equipment.

Benefits of RPET

RPET has many benefits, including:

More environmentally friendly – than alternative plastics, because it’s made from recycled plastic. RPET leaves a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared with manufacturing new plastic and can be used again in other products. This also helps to reduce the amount of plastic that populates landfill sites and oceans worldwide.

Durability – RPET is highly resistant to chemicals and heat – making it an ideal material to store food and for use in microwaves, fridges and freezers.

Hygienic and low-hassle – Because of its glossy surface, RPET repels water and dirt – making it easy to clean.

Cost-effectiveness – RPET has low production costs. Developing recycled plastic uses little water and energy. The end product is also lightweight, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions.

Sustainable solutions from Lifestyle Packaging

Lifestyle Packaging supports eco-conscious businesses in meeting their green targets with a range of recycled plastic packaging options.

View our recycled plastic packaging solutions or chat with our team for more information today.