Can PET Plastic Support the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—Towards Sustainability?

Does PET Plastic Truly Have Reusable Potential?

Sustainability is a driving force in today’s world, with circular and low-carbon economies transforming industries globally. In December 2024, the plastic treaty negotiations in Busan, South Korea, reflected intense debate between advocating plastic waste management and pushing for a complete ban on plastic, without reaching a clear conclusion.

This raises the question: Does PET plastic have real reusable potential? While PET bottles are widely used in the beverage industry, they typically aren't suitable for refilling due to hygiene standards and chemical migration concerns. However, PET shows promise in other applications like durable consumer goods (e.g., storage bins, refrigerator drawers) due to its mechanical strength and long-lasting properties.

Moreover, advanced techniques like copolymerization can enhance PET’s strength and resistance, extending its life for various applications. This not only improves the material’s longevity but also promotes efficient recycling, supporting sustainability.

While direct reuse may not always be feasible, PET remains a recyclable material. Its environmental benefit lies in closed-loop recycling systems, like “bottle-to-bottle” recycling. This process, which converts used PET bottles into high-quality rPET (recycled PET) for food-grade uses, reduces reliance on virgin PET and fosters a more sustainable future.

Virgin PET Plastic Facing Criticism

As plastic pollution intensifies, the packaging industry is increasingly seen as a major contributor to global carbon emissions. In particular, virgin PET plastic, derived from petroleum, has faced widespread criticism due to its long-term environmental impact. In response to this challenge, many countries and regions have begun taking measures to promote bottle recycling and reuse to mitigate the negative effects of plastic pollution.

In the European Union, recycled PET has become a key goal in packaging design and production. According to the EU Plastics Strategy, by 2025, all plastic packaging must be efficiently recyclable, and all PET bottles must contain at least 25% recycled material. Furthermore, the EU has pushed forward a Plastics Recycling Directive, requiring member states to establish robust recycling systems and encourage the reuse of packaging materials.

Globally, organizations such as the Plastics Treaty and the Global Plastics Alliance are advocating for increased investment in recycled plastics and urging governments to implement stricter recycling requirements, particularly encouraging the use of at least 30% recycled PET in bottles. These efforts reflect the industry's urgent need to reduce reliance on virgin PET and mitigate its environmental impact.

Current Status of rPET Development

In response to the growing environmental challenges and resource shortages, the industry is actively advancing technological innovations to explore lower-cost and higher-purity recycling methods. Closed-loop recycling systems, such as bottle-to-bottle recycling, are becoming a key area of focus. This approach allows for the recycling of used PET bottles into food-grade recycled PET (rPET), thus facilitating efficient resource reuse.

However, in practice, the cost of high-quality rPET is often higher than that of virgin PET, a trend particularly evident in the European market. The main reasons for this lie in the complexity and high cost of current recycling technologies. The recycling process involves multiple stages, including cleaning, sorting, shredding, melting, and pelletizing, each requiring sophisticated equipment and strict quality control to ensure that the recycled PET meets food safety and performance standards. Additionally, the current recycling infrastructure is not yet fully widespread, and large-scale production capacity remains limited, further driving up costs.

Despite these challenges, the advantages of PET closed-loop recycling should not be overlooked. Once the technology matures and scales up, it holds the potential to significantly reduce the demand for virgin plastics and greatly mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste. Therefore, PET is not synonymous with "unsustainability," but is rather a material with significant environmental value. 

The Potential and Challenges of Enzyme Recycling Technology

The industry is exploring cost-effective, high-purity recycling methods, with enzyme recycling emerging as a promising solution. By using specific biocatalysts, enzyme recycling efficiently degrades PET waste while significantly reducing energy consumption and costs compared to traditional methods.

A recent breakthrough from Kyungbuk National University and CJ CheilJedang developed KUBU-M12, an enzyme that can degrade 45% of PET in one hour, over 90% in eight hours, and nearly 100% in twelve hours. This advancement brings new hope for reducing plastic pollution and supporting the circular economy.

However, several challenges remain for widespread commercialization. Enzyme stability and scalability must improve to meet industrial needs, and the global recycling infrastructure is still lacking in network development, sorting precision, and policy support.

Currently, most plastic bottles use virgin plastic due to its lower cost and higher quality consistency. Transitioning to high-quality recycled PET will require technological advancements, policy guidance, and greater consumer environmental awareness. Despite the challenges, enzyme recycling holds significant potential for a sustainable plastic future.

The Advancement of Green Bio-based Plastics

The development of bio-based materials has emerged as a key focus in the plastics industry, driven by the growing demand for sustainable solutions. Unlike traditional petroleum-based PET, bio-based PET and alternatives such as PEF (polyethylene furanoate) are increasingly gaining attention. Bio-based PET incorporates renewable resources, such as plant-based ethylene glycol, which significantly reduces carbon emissions during production. This makes it a more environmentally friendly option compared to petroleum-based plastics.

PEF, another notable alternative, offers enhanced performance characteristics. It outperforms PET in gas barrier properties, and also boasts superior mechanical strength and durability. These qualities make PEF an attractive eco-friendly solution for the packaging industry, with potential for widespread adoption.

These innovations not only provide a viable route for the plastics industry to transition to greener materials but also support the achievement of global sustainability goals. By combining low-carbon production techniques with recycling, bio-based materials are shaping a more environmentally responsible and efficient future for plastics.

The Responsibility of Plastic Manufacturers

As one of the top ten global producers of high-performance PET resins, , Wankai New Materials Co.,Ltd. recognizes the urgent need to tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution. Manufacturers have a responsibility to implement effective measures to reduce their environmental impact and foster sustainable development.

In line with this commitment, Wankai New Materials has embraced green production principles, focusing on low-carbon manufacturing practices. The company has installed rooftop photovoltaic systems to harness renewable energy, demonstrating innovation in sustainable energy applications. Additionally, by utilizing waste heat from esterification reactions to generate power, the company significantly enhances energy efficiency while promoting waste-to-resource solutions.

In addition to improving the sustainability of its production processes, Wankai New Materials is also driving progress in PET recycling and bio-based plastic development. The company is investing in high-purity rPET production technologies, exploring enzyme recycling methods, and researching bio-based PET and fully bio-based alternatives like PEF. These initiatives provide the plastic industry with viable, eco-friendly solutions and support the transition to a greener, low-carbon economy.

Conclusion

While we continue to benefit from the convenience and efficiency offered by PET, it is crucial to recognize that the plastic industry is actively working towards a green transformation. From adopting sustainable production methods to innovating eco-friendly materials, these efforts are making significant contributions to reducing environmental impact and advancing the circular economy. Together, let us look forward to and support the industry's journey toward a more sustainable future.