PET is the world’s packaging choice for many foods and beverages because it is hygienic, strong, lightweight, shatterproof, and retains freshness. It is most commonly used to package carbonated soft drinks and water. PET is also popular for packaging salad dressings, cooking oil, peanut butter, shampoo, liquid hand soap, mouthwash, and other personal care items. Special grades of PET are used for take-out containers and food trays that can be warmed in the oven or microwave. The global demand for PET is over 20 million tons a year.

Consumers can identify PET containers by the triangular #1 resin identification code found on the bottom of PET bottles and jars. PET is recyclable and highly sustainable. It is one of the most recycled plastic in the world and can be recycled over and over again. PET is a very inert material that is resistant to attack by micro-organisms, and does not react with food products, which is why it is widely preferred for packaging foods, beverages and pharmaceuticals. Although the feedstocks for PET are petroleum based, the carbon footprint of PET is very favorable in comparison to glass, aluminum and other container materials. That’s because the light weight and strength of PET allows more product to be delivered with less packaging weight and less energy than most other container materials.

Indorama produces many types of PET Resins for bottles, films, and sheets with different properties and characteristics such as Recycled PET Resins and Heavy Metal Free Resins