Environmentally friendly packaging and clothing: from PET to R-PET to Bio-PET

The environmental protection movement first started with the awakening of environmental awareness among consumers, and now companies have also participated in it. Recovering nature (Refresh), saving resources (Reduce), recycling (Recycle), recycling (Reuse) and renewable energy (Renew) are collectively referred to as 5R. These concepts have been integrated into the company's daily operations and are also given priority by all leading brands Important matters. This is not only a blessing for the earth, but also promoted the emergence of a number of highly innovative packaging solutions.

PET upgraded version-R-PET

The advantages of traditional PET have long been known to food and beverage manufacturers. PET is light, shatter-resistant, uses high-efficiency and energy-saving production methods, is easy to transport, and has excellent chemical resistance to maintain product integrity. In addition, it also helps reduce the weight of the main packaging and directly affects the carbon dioxide emissions of all links. Most importantly, in this era of environmental awareness, it is completely recyclable. Nowadays, PET packaging bottles are recycled and can be easily processed into a variety of household products-for example, new bottles, vacuum cleaners and clothing. Recyclable PET (commonly known as R-PET) can maintain the same lightweight strength and durability as PET, but the energy consumption in the production process is only two-thirds of that of virgin PET.

Committed to recycling
It is not difficult to understand that the industry has such a positive response to the use of R-PET, and many leading brands have incorporated R-PET as a standard into their process production. Both Spa Monopole and Martens wineries in Belgium contain 50% R-PET in their packaging. Danone’s recently exported Evian and Volvic bottles contain 25% R-PET. Coca-Cola also promised that by 2015, 25% of its PET will be derived from recyclable materials.

Although R-PET can allow manufacturers to maintain all the advantages of PET, there is still a major disadvantage: that is, insufficient supply. Therefore, the next step is to persuade the public to recognize the need for recycling, so as to increase the supply of recyclable materials. And all this needs to start from the efficient recycling of waste PET bottles.

A study published in 2011 showed that Europe is a global leader in PET recycling, with an average recycling rate of 50% of waste PET bottles. This is equivalent to 1.59 million tons of PET. The increase in global recycling rate is sufficient to reflect this trend. According to the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (Canada Plastics Industry Association) report, the recycling rate in North America and Canada increased by 13% in 2011. This is a good start, but there is a long way to go, and there are still many areas that need to be improved.

Renewable Bio-PET
However, the exploration of industry colleagues has never stopped, and they continue to use R-PET to improve the environmental protection characteristics of PET. The emergence of new technologies will help companies use organic agricultural by-products or agricultural waste to make PET bottles. As we all know, Bio-PET can reduce the dependence on fossil fuel oil in the production process and can be completely recycled. MEG is the first material extracted from renewable resources that can be used as the main component of PET. MEG can be extracted from cane molasses, and 30% of PET components are MEG.

Coca-Cola is the first company to fully accept Bio-PET packaging. They developed an innovative PlantBottle. This is the first fully recyclable PET plastic beverage bottle in history, with up to 30% non-petrochemical materials. Since the final material is still PET, it is comparable to PET in terms of diversity, durability, sealability, weight, appearance and reusability. However, some of these PET bottles are made of renewable resources, thus greatly reducing carbon emissions.

Coca-Cola has selected some beverage brands to use this bottle. Up to now, more than 15 billion PlantBottle packages have entered the lives of people in 25 countries around the world, which fully reflects Coca-Cola’s global commitment to environmental protection.

Industry leaders strongly support Bio-PET
Following the great success of PlantBottle, Coca-Cola joined forces with four other industry-leading consumer product manufacturers to form the "Plant-based PET Technology Cooperation Consortium" (PTC). This strategic cooperative group composed of Coca-Cola, Ford Motor, Heinz, Nike, and Procter & Gamble is committed to accelerating the development of 100% plant-based PET materials and fiber and their application in product packaging, while constantly exploring and looking for alternatives to fossil fuels Program.

List of Brand Cases
In 1998, Colgate took the lead in using recyclable PET packaging in Europe. Today, the recyclable bottles of their Natura Verde series of home care products use natural ingredients. 60% of the ingredients in this type of packaging come from recyclable plastics, which brings huge environmental benefits, including energy saving, emission reduction, and waste control. Moreover, this series of products has been well received by consumers.

In 2011, Volvic launched a 100% recyclable PET packaging bottle. Volvic named it "GREENER BOTTLE". 20% of its ingredients are made of sugar cane, which reduces the carbon emissions of packaging by 38%. Compared with the traditional 50 cl bottle, the total carbon emissions are Can be reduced by 16%. Volvic expects to reduce the total global carbon emissions of its business by 40%.

Pepsi is not far behind, launching 100% plant-based packaging bottles with the goal of significantly reducing carbon emissions. This type of packaging bottle was launched in 2012, and each packaging bottle is made of raw materials, most of which are crop waste from various Pepsi foods (such as tangerine peel, corn husk and oat husk).

Avantium specializes in the development of renewable chemicals and detergent technology. The company has signed agreements with Coca-Cola and Danone to further promote the use of PEF (high pressure polyethylene) bottles in beverage packaging. Since PEF surpasses PET in terms of carbon dioxide and oxygen barrier properties, it has great development potential. Avantium has increased its investment in material research and development, which will accelerate the development of 100% plant-based packaging bottles and also demonstrate the company's determination to develop sustainable packaging solutions.

From Thermoforming