Pet Resin Association | The PET Resin Association

PETRA is the industry association for North America's producers of PET - polyethylene terephthalate - the clear and lightweight plastic used around the world to package foods, beverages, personal care products and other consumer items.

PETRA (the PET Resin Association) is dedicated to:

Promoting the benefits and value of PET and PET resin products
Educating the public about the safety and uses of PET
Providing accurate technical and scientific information about PET
Encouraging the recycling and sustainable use of PET
Serving as the authoritative voice on issues impacting the industry

PET is the most recycled plastic in America. Bottles, jars and containers made of PET can be identified by the #1 and chasing arrows code stamped on the bottom.

PET resin—the basic building block for PET plastic packaging materials, beverage containers and a host of other consumer items—contains no phthalates. Can PET bottles and containers be recycled?

Absolutely. PET is 100% recyclable and highly sustainable. It can be recovered and recycled again and again –– back into containers for foods, beverages and personal care products – or into carpet and clothing fibers, automotive parts, construction materials, industrial strapping or other packaging materials. Approximately 1.5 billion pounds of used PET bottles and containers are collected in the U.S. each year for recycling. PET is the most recycled plastic in the U.S.

BPA Free What happens to PET bottles and containers that aren't recycled and end up in landfills?

Because PET is resistant to attack by micro-organisms and won't biologically degrade, PET bottles and containers that find their way to the landfill remain inert and pose no risk of leaching or contaminating groundwater. PET bottles and containers are thin walled and can be easily crushed flat, so they take up relatively little landfill space. According to the EPA, only 1% of U.S. municipal solid waste is attributed to PET containers.