PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate, Resin Identification Code #1)
Due to its clarity and natural CO2 barrier properties, PET is one of the most widely used packaging resins. It is easily blown into a bottle or formed into a sheet, thereby becoming the resin of choice for many applications. PET does not normally have the desired properties for closures, handles, attachments or labels so other polymers are commonly used for these items and affixed to the PET package. PET properties can be enhanced with colorants, UV blockers, oxygen barriers/scavengers and other additives. Each modification and addition to the base, clear PET in a package must be considered for its effect on the recycling stream. Items should either be economically removed from the PET in the typical recycling process or be compatible with RPET in future uses. The density of PET is 1.38 g/cm3 and so it sinks in water. Closures, labels and attachments should be made from materials with a density less than 1.0 g/cm3 that will float in water and therefore be readily separated from the PET.
Base Resin
IV
Preferred: between 0.72- 0.90 dL/g as determined by ASTM D4603 test method
Detrimental: <0.72 dL/g or > 0.90 dL/g as determined by ASTM D4603 test method
Melting Point
Preferred: 225-255°C as determined by ASTM D3418-15 test method
Needs Testing: <225°C or > 255°C, or non-crystallizable
Monomer Composition
Preferred: > 90% PTA or DMT reacted with MEG
Detrimental: < 90% PTA or DMT reacted with MEG
Blends
Needs Testing: Contains polymer blends of PET and other materials
Color
Color
Preferred: Clear
Preferred: Transparent Blue
Preferred: Transparent Green
Detrimental: Other Transparent Colors
Detrimental: Opaque/White
Detrimental: Black/Dark Colors passing SORT-B-01
Non Recyclable: Black/Dark Colors not passing SORT-B-01
Dimensions
Volume
Preferred: ≤ 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume
Detrimental: > 7.5 liters (2 gal.) in volume
Size
Preferred: > 2 in (5 cm.) in any two dimensions
Needs Testing: ≤ 2 in (5 cm) in any two dimensions
Shape
Preferred: Smallest uncompressed packaging dimension ≥ minimum dimensions per APR-RES-SORT-05
Needs Testing: Smallest uncompressed packaging dimension < minimum dimensions per APR-RES-SORT-05
Barrier/Coating/Additive
Optical Brightner
Detrimental: Optical Brightners
Oxygen Scavengers
Preferred: Oxygen Scavengers that pass PET-CG-01 when using aging condition per PET-P-12
Needs Testing: Untested Oxygen Scavengers
Silicone Oxides
Needs Testing: Silicon Oxides
Toners
Needs Testing: Toners
Reheat Additives
Needs Testing: Reheat Additives
Degradable Additives
: Degradable Additives
Other Additives/Barriers
Needs Testing: Other Additives/Barriers
Closures
Material Composition
Preferred: Made of polymers with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental : Made with composites of AL and paper
Non Recyclable: Made with or contains PVC
Needs Testing: Made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 or sink in water after granulation per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Made with or contains metal components
Closure Liners
Material Composition
Preferred: Made of polymers with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental : Made with composites of AL and paper
Non Recyclable: Made with or contains PVC
Needs Testing: Made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 or sink in water after granulation per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Made with or contains metalized material
Preferred: Made of any material but are designed to be completely removed and discarded before opening package
Safety Seals/Sleeves
Material Composition
Preferred: Made of polymers with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental : Made with composites of AL and paper
Non Recyclable: Made with or contains PVC
Needs Testing: Made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 or sink in water after granulation per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Made with or contains metalized material
Preferred: Made of any material but are designed to be completely removed and discarded before opening package
Spray Dispeners/Pumps
Material Composition
Preferred: Made of polymers with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 or floats in water per PET-S-05
Non Recyclable: Made with or contains PVC
Needs Testing: Made of polymers with density > 1.0 g/cm3 or sink in water after granulation per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Made with or contains metal components
Needs Testing: Made with or contain silicone components
Pressure Sensitive Labels
Surface Area Coverage
Preferred: ≤ 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or ≤ 75% for Volumes > 550mL
Needs Testing: > 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or >75% for Volumes > 550mL
Material Composition
Preferred: Film labels with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 that float in water per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Film Labels with density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental: Labels that contain paper material
Non Recyclable: Labels that contain any amount of PLA or PVC material
Preferred: Label that contain metalized material where surface area ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Needs Testing: Labels that contain metalized material where surface area > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Adhesives
Needs Testing: Adhesive designed to wash cleanly from package
Ink
Preferred: Hot Caustic Resistance Inks for labels that float in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that float in water
Detrimental : Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that sink in water
Preferred: Wash off Inks for labels that sink in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Wash off Inks for labels that sink
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Shrink Sleeve Labels
Surface Area Coverage
Preferred: ≤ 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or ≤ 75% for Volumes > 550mL
Needs Testing: > 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or >75% for Volumes > 550mL
Material Composition
Preferred: Film labels with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 that float in water per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Film Labels with density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental: Labels that contain paper material
Non Recyclable: Labels that contain any amount of PLA or PVC material
Preferred: Label that contain metalized material where surface area ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Needs Testing: Labels that contain metalized material where surface area > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Ink
Preferred: Hot Caustic Resistance Inks for labels that float in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that float in water
Detrimental : Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that sink in water
Preferred: Wash off Inks for labels that sink in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Wash off Inks for labels that sink
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Wrap/Roll Fed Labels
Surface Area Coverage
Preferred: ≤ 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or ≤ 75% for Volumes > 550mL
Needs Testing: > 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or >75% for Volumes > 550mL
Material Composition
Preferred: Film labels with density ≤ 1.0 g/cm3 that float in water per PET-S-05
Needs Testing: Film Labels with density > 1.0 g/cm3 that sink in water per PET-S-05
Detrimental: Labels that contain paper material
Non Recyclable: Labels that contain any amount of PLA or PVC material
Preferred: Label that contain metalized material where surface area ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Needs Testing: Labels that contain metalized material where surface area > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Adhesives
Needs Testing: Adhesive designed to wash cleanly from package
Ink
Preferred: Hot Caustic Resistance Inks for labels that float in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that float in water
Detrimental : Hot Caustic Resistance Inks on labels that sink in water
Preferred: Wash off Inks for labels that sink in water and meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Wash off Inks for labels that sink
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Direct Print Labels
Surface Area Coverage
Preferred: ≤ 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or ≤ 75% for Volumes > 550mL
Needs Testing: > 55% for Volumes ≤ 550mL or >75% for Volumes > 550mL
Ink
Preferred: Wash off Inks that meet PET-B-02
Needs Testing: Untested Wash off Inks
Preferred: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage ≤ Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4
Needs Testing: Metallic Inks where surface area coverage > Preferred Surface Area per RES-SORT-4