Rethinking the demonization of plastic, using PET as an example

We are all very familiar with the controversies and challenges surrounding the use of hydrocarbon plastics, which have gone from a wonder material to a world pollution threat in the space of 100 years
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One particular plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has borne the brunt of global scrutiny
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Ben Smye, head of growth at Matmatch, a leading platform for researching and sourcing sustainable materials, explains why PET still has a place in the modern world
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It may seem unusual, but one of the best snapshots of the changing relationship between modern society and plastic can be seen at the New York fashion show
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In the 1980s, several models graced the runway with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bottles of Evian water, silently speaking to audiences about single-use plastics
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Some 30 years later, during New York Fashion Week 2019, Evian introduced a sustainable, reusable carafe with a bamboo lid
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For a brand synonymous with single-use plastic bottles, the move to glass – even if it’s just a limited-edition collection – is a clear reflection of modern anxieties surrounding plastic pollution
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Notably, Evian has also set a goal of using rPET in its bottle production by 2025 to create a slightly closed loop and reduce the carbon intensity of its operations
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Plastic pollution has become an increasingly pressing global issue due to the scale of plastic manufacturing, the widespread use of single-use plastic products, and the shortcomings of these products in waste management
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For many, PET has become part of this pollution problem
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Since the 1990s, thermoplastics have been the material of choice for bottling beverages due to their strength, stiffness, barrier properties and light weight
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According to Mordor Intelligence estimates, PET production exceeded 80 million tonnes in 2020 – a huge number, but Mordor noted that this number has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic
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In the wider plastics market, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) cites a 2017 statistic that more than 8.
3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s; 60% of which has ended up in Landfill in landfill, ocean or natural environment
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From this, we can estimate that 48 million tons of PET produced in 2020 will either end up in landfills or be contaminated as plastic
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This is a problem because PET is known to have long degradation cycles and complex ways of breaking down over time
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In a 2020 paper in the European Journal of Polymers, Tian Sang et al.
comprehensively review the degradation conditions of PET
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The paper concludes that the ability of PET to degrade—whether through accelerated weathering, hydrolysis, or photolysis—is highly temperature- and time-dependent
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At the closest approximation to natural conditions, the bulk of the polymer is not affected by the reaction conditions, only the surface chemistry changes
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It is because of the breaking of chemical bonds on the surface of plastics that we have the problem of microplastics
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It was first defined by Thompson et al.
in 2004 as plastic fragments and particles less than 5 mm in diameter
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Although plastics like PET do not degrade naturally, exposure to certain environmental conditions can cause partial decomposition
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Despite the environmental concerns, PET still has its functional advantages in a more sustainable world
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When used and managed responsibly, manufacturers can reap the benefits of PET, lowering their carbon footprint and reducing pollution concerns
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Responsible PET Stewardship

One of the main problems with PET is the role it was designed for
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If a PET bottle is designed to be thrown away after one use, the premise of this application is itself wasteful
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Plastics like PET are better suited for longer-lasting, multi-purpose applications
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For example, reusable bottles made from PET do not end up in landfills or recycling plants within a week of purchase
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In effect, it is the captured carbon that is used sustainably
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In this sense, if product designers wish to use hydrocarbon plastics in applications such as packaging, they have a responsibility to rethink the long-term use of their products
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Most of the PETs listed on Matmatch reinforce the idea of ​​long-term use, and many of these PETs are used in applications such as mechanical systems, conveyor rollers, and automotive components
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Another way to use PET responsibly is to ensure it is recyclable and to incorporate rPET into new product designs
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Currently, PET is the plastic with the highest recycling rate, and as of 2017, the recycling rate of PET resin in Europe was about 58%
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Recycled PET reduces the need for additional raw materials, and up to 35 percent of recycled pellets can be used in the molding process of new bottles
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Given that one of the raw materials for PET is crude oil, a 35% reduction has immediate environmental benefits
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Contrary to popular belief, recycled polymers do not always have a performance penalty compared to newly produced plastics
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Lavergne's VYPET material portfolio is an example
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This line of rPET resins is primarily made from post-consumer recycled plastic, occasionally reinforced with other materials to enhance the core properties of PET
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VYPET resin has the durability, high stiffness, high temperature and chemical resistance and lightweight structure of PET
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This makes them ideal for more demanding applications such as automotive parts, motor insulation or structural components
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For example, VYPET VNT 615FR is a flame retardant PET compound reinforced with glass fibers
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With a dielectric strength of 37 kV/mm and excellent mechanical properties, it is ideal for electrical and structural applications
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The popularity of PET has been high due to the properties it offers, and it can be a challenge to replicate this property perfectly with other types of plastics
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To continue to make the most of this plastic, product designers must change their perceptions of the material, and plastic suppliers must embrace rPET more
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The continued use of PET depends on its new role as a long-lasting plastic rather than a single-use product
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If a model was going to walk down the runway with a plastic bottle, it would be a reusable rPET bottle - a sign that this once-wonder material still has a place in a sustainable world
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