Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling for the Beverage Industry: A Review

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging accounted for 44.7% of single-serve beverage packaging in the US in 2021, and 12% of global solid waste. PET packaging accounts for a significant portion of global solid waste, but it has several environmentally friendly properties that make it a good choice for beverage packaging.

Recycling technologies for PET have improved over the years, with bottle-to-bottle recycling becoming more common. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, such as limited supply of recycled PET and the need for better detection methods for the amount of recycled content in bottles. The article also highlights the importance of design enhancements for recyclability and initiatives like digital watermarking for improved sortation and traceability.

Ultimately, increasing the use of recycled PET in beverage packaging is a crucial step towards a circular economy and reducing environmental impacts.