PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

One of the most familiar types of plastic packaging commonly found in U.S. households is PET. PET can be identified by the number “1” inside the “chasing arrows” symbolizing recycling.

PET was originally introduced to consumers in the 1970s in the form of soft drink bottles. In addition, PET is used as containers for a wide variety of consumer products, including juice, peanut butter, dish detergent and household cleaners, mouthwash, and tennis balls; as well as fiber applications such as clothing and carpeting.

But perhaps the fastest growing use of PET is in the plastic bottle industry. From 1999 to 2001, the number of PET beverage containers sold in the California alone more than tripled, and it is now estimated that 31% of all the plastic bottles produced in the United States are made from PET.

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