- What about the packaging of beer, can PET be used here?
- Does PET use up scarce oil resources?
- What happens if the containers are used to store noxious chemicals before returning to be refilled? Will PET absorb chemicals?
- How can PET bottles be cleaned for re-use to avoid accidental bacteria growth?
- Is recycling of PET comparable with glass?
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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.