PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of plastic renowned for its clarity, strength, and versatility. It stands out as one of the most readily recyclable and frequently recycled plastics across the globe, especially in regions like the United States. This inherent recyclability makes PET a preferred material for beverage companies in America, who utilize it extensively for their bottles, specifically engineered for complete recyclability.
Recycled PET, often referred to as rPET, is a highly desirable resource. Opting for rPET over virgin plastic yields significant environmental advantages. When rPET is used in the production of new bottles, it drastically cuts down on energy consumption by up to 79% and curtails greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 67%. Beyond new beverage containers, rPET is repurposed into a diverse array of products, including warm winter clothing, comfortable rugs, safe playground surfaces, and even cozy beds for pets.
Bottles made with 100% recycled PET plastic, showcasing sustainable packaging.
Even authoritative sources such as the Encyclopedia Britannica emphasize the unique value of PET, stating it as “the most widely recycled plastic… PET can be recycled into its original uses…” This underscores its closed-loop recycling potential, making it a truly circular material.
Leading beverage manufacturers in America are actively striving to recover every bottle they produce. This ambitious goal aims to minimize the reliance on new plastic and prevent bottles from polluting natural environments. They are collaborating with prominent environmental and sustainability organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, The Recycling Partnership, and Closed Loop Partners to enhance the collection infrastructure for plastic bottles. These collaborative efforts are crucial for ensuring that more bottles are recycled and transformed into new ones, thereby shrinking the plastic footprint and keeping bottles out of landfills, rivers, and oceans. Progress in reducing plastic waste is being continuously monitored and tracked.
These ongoing initiatives have already yielded tangible results, including the distribution of nearly 650,000 recycling bins in communities and upgrades to processing facilities to accelerate recycling rates. Educational resources are also being provided to help households improve their recycling practices. Furthermore, advocacy for modern recycling policies is underway to ensure that collected plastic bottles are effectively recycled back into new bottles.
While continuous improvement is still needed, significant strides have been made. Beverage companies are increasingly manufacturing bottles from 100% recycled plastic*, exemplified by the bottles shown above. Notably, the proportion of recycled plastic used in beverage bottles more than doubled between 2018 and 2021, with recycled content now being a common component in the majority of these containers. This demonstrates a clear shift towards greater sustainability within the beverage industry.
To delve deeper into the beverage industry’s commitment to retrieving Every Bottle Back, you can explore more information here.
*Excluding Caps & Labels
