There are around 7 different categories of plastic in the world, however, there is a type of plastic whose characteristics are ideal for promoting recycling, the circular economy and the reduction of unused waste in nature: rPET. Have you heard of this plastic? We show you what it is about below.
What is rPET??
rPET is the result of the recycling process of PET plastic once its consumption period has concluded, that is, rPET is completely recycled, recyclable and sustainable plastic. PET plastic (its predecessor) is made of polyethylene terephthalate, a material that is extremely easy to process and that allows new bottles to be made from it, something that cannot be done with other materials such as polypropylene. In addition, PET plastic differs from other plastics because it is highly resistant, unbreakable, lightweight, and capable of storing food due to its excellent barrier to oxygen and water vapor.
The great advantage is that, once it is converted into rPET, these characteristics are maintained, making it possible to make the most of recycled plastic in the food industry, significantly favoring the reduction of waste and reducing the need to manufacture new bottles from virgin materials.
How to identify it?
The good news is that we can easily find this type of plastic in our daily lives, either in bottles with drinks or in food containers. You only have to look at the base of your bottle or container: if it has the number 1 and is enclosed in a triangle, it means that it is PET plastic and can be recycled. Once you have identified it, separate it from the rest of the waste so that it can be collected by recyclers and used by factories to give it a new life.
Why should we all bet on this plastic?
PET has become the most recycled plastic in the world. Almost all plastics can be recycled, however, few can be transformed hundreds of times, as rPET can. According to a study by the Center for Innovation and Development for the Circular Economy (Cidec), rPET is considered the best solution to guarantee the circularity of packaging, and indicated that its manufacture generates less greenhouse gases, less consumption of fossil fuels and requires 88% less energy than making plastic from new raw materials. This is why PET and rPET represent a very valuable opportunity to continue promoting the circular economy and caring for the environment. The impact of recycled plastic is twofold: fulfilling the function of a normal bottle or container, and being a key tool to, in the long term, reduce the presence of new plastics that will end up in the oceans and pollute our homes.
At Origin we are committed to this cause, and we do it by detecting and collecting plastics and transforming them into a new bottle. Join the movement and start recycling your PET bottles! Let’s give new life to plastic!
