- Does PET contain endocrine disruptors?
- It has been reported that a hot environment can create harmful levels of antimony oxide in PET-bottled water. Is that true?
- How can PET bottles be cleaned for re-use to avoid accidental bacteria growth?
- Why is PET used to package so many items?
- What happens to PET if it is dumped into landfills?
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Does PET contain phthalates?
PET contains no phthalates. Phthalates are low molecular weight monoesters made from ortho-phthalic acid. By comparison, PET is high molecular weight polyester made from tere-phthalic acid and these forms are chemically very different. Phthalates (ie phthalate ester plasticizers) are not used in the manufacture of PET, and PET itself is not a phthalate. Plasticizer phthalates are sometimes used to soften other types of plastic, but they are not used in PET. Some consumers may have incorrectly assumed that PET is a phthalate because PET's chemical name is polyethylene terephthalate.