PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

PET is the clear, strong polyester behind drinks bottles, thermoformed trays and textile fibre — and the most-recycled plastic on earth. The trade distinguishes several grades. Bottle grade (IV ≈ 0.76–0.84 dl/g) is made for stretch-blow moulding; fibre grade (IV ≈ 0.58–0.64) feeds polyester spinning; APET is amorphous sheet for thermoforming; CPET is crystallised for oven-ready trays; PETG is a glycol-modified copolyester that thermoforms without whitening and does not mix with standard PET recycling streams.

Key quality parameters are intrinsic viscosity (IV), moisture, colour and contaminant ppm (PVC is the critical poison). Primary forms classify under HS 3907.61 (≥ 30% recycled context) or 3907.69; bottle scrap under 3915.90. Main end uses: bottles, sheet and trays, strapping, fibre. In this corridor PET moves as UK bottle bales feeding Turkish hot-wash lines, and returns as flake, pellet and sheet.