Recycling PET plastic
Your guide to plastic recycling
Confused about recycling plastic? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Some plastic can be recycled easily, while others can’t. There are 7 types of plastic identified by 7 numbers. PET plastic is the most recycled plastic in the world and can be identified by the number 1 symbol.
Here’s a basic guide on to how to recycle your plastic.
PET can play a key role in realising the circular economy
PET is a uniquely recyclable material.
PET is one of the most collected materials for recycling.
Packaging can play a key role in maintaining access to the products we love.
Which plastics are recyclable?
PET – POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Beverage bottles, food packaging, PPE, soap/handgel dispensers
Recycled into more PET products, over and over
Widely recycled
HDPE – HDPE HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Milk/juice bottles, cleaning product containers, soap/handgel dispensers
Recycled into more cartons, piping, garden furniture
Widely recycled
PVC – POLYVINYL CHLORIDE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Car parts, thermal insulation, piping and window fittings
Recycled into more PVC products
Check locally
LDPE – LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Shopping bags, wrapping
Flooring, furniture, more plastic bags
Check locally
PP – POLYPROPYLENE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Carpet fibres, automotive upholstery, microwaveable meal packaging
Fibre for clothing, packaging
Widely recycled
PS – POLYSTYRENE
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Packaging, takeaway food boxes, single use cutlery, insulation
Packaging
Check locally
OTHERS
VIRGIN USE
RECYCLED USE
EASE OF RECYCLING
Plastic bags for snacks, salad and fruit
Not recycled. Some goes to landfill, some to compost, some to energy recovery
Not recycled/
Check locally
How to recycle plastic
How does PET recycling work?
PET is special. It is near infinitely recyclable and can play a key role in realising the circular economy. But how does the recycling process work? Well, the PET value chain has been investing in improving the process of collecting, washing and recycling of PET.
Read more to discover the benefits of recycling PET and how we can all work together to realise a more sustainable future for packaging.
PET: made to be remade
What happens to recycled plastic? PET is a uniquely recyclable material. The only plastic which can be 100% recycled in closed loop, bottle-to-bottle recycling. This isn’t all PET can be remade into, though. Discover how this versatile resource is the complete opposite of a disposable ‘single-use’ plastic.
Working towards 90% collection
PET is one of the most collected materials for recycling, far above other plastics. But we could do better. We should be aiming to get every PET bottle and container collected for recycling. Proven approaches like deposit return schemes can significantly improve collection rates and hitting the EU’s 90% target will take a combined effort. Discover what we’re doing to improve collection and enable the easy recycling of PET and how you can get involved.
EU Green Deal
The European Green Deal is the EU’s plan to create a sustainable economy. By viewing environmental challenges as opportunities, the hope is that the transition can be fair and inclusive. Packaging can play a key role in maintaining access to the products we love while boosting sustainability.