Clear PET is built for the circular economy

Clear PET plastic is the most widely recycled plastic in the world. This is for good reason, the polymer chains break down at a lower temperature, so the chain isn’t degraded during the recycling process. Recently, GA circular released a report showing companies that make a PET bottle coloured instead of clear reduces its value in the South-east Asian recycling market by $84 a tonne. The report provides a blueprint for PET plastic to be part of the circular economy, encouraging the recycling of this valuable material. 

GA circular states “PET bottles that are landfilled or leaked to the environment in the reported six countries as of 2018 represent a loss in secondary material value of US $199 million per year.” The informal recyclers play a major role in collecting PET and restoring its economic value. Most countries studied in this report lack waste collection and recycling services. This gives rise to informal waste collectors who make money from collecting and selling plastic waste.  97% of all PET collected-for-recycling in the six countries, happened due to the informal recycling economy. Thus they must be included when forming a solution to PET recycling. 

GA Circular is also urging brands and manufacturers in South East Asia to opt-in for Packaging Recovery Organisations (PROs). PROs focus on bringing back the value of plastic by proper recycling technology and infrastructure. This greatly benefits the informal sector by beginning to formalise their employment. The end materials can be used for good-grade recycled standards and thus close the loop for plastic. 

PET plastic is often chosen by recyclers as an easy option. Because of its high recycling rates, other types of plastic is ignored. For example, global recycling rates for polypropylene is staggeringly low at 2%. Polypropylene can be recycled into items such as brooms, brushes, garden rakes and plastic trays. Plastics For Change is actively recycling polypropylene and encouraging brands to adopt this material. Whilst PET is built for the circular economy, other plastics must be included in the mix. 

Recyclers are on a mission to create less waste and drive plastic through the circular economy. However, this is beyond individual or singular efforts. As the report finds, we must work collectively to push PET plastic through the value chain and drive up the material’s value.