Reshaping the world - one PET bottle at a time

Sasha Chettri • December 11, 2021

Some cannot live without it, most don’t really care, and some cannot stand it - whichever side you’re on - you cannot avoid plastic. It is everywhere - in your laptop, washing machine, phones, shoes and toothbrushes.

John Wesley Hyatt created the first synthetic polymer in 1869. The invention of which, freed us from the constraints of nature. Where once industries were restricted to using wood, metal, stone, bone, tusk, and horn, we had finally created a brand new material that was durable, and stronger than any other naturally occurring polymer such as cotton, starch, and rubber, that were already in use. Plastic was a revolution. It was is far more versatile and reliable - capable of being moulded into multiple shapes and forms. Quickly, its usage became wide and varied. Initially the material was advertised as the saviour of the elephant and the tortoise - an upgrade from ivory. Plastics could protect the natural world from the destructive forces of human need. We never imagined we would be on the brink of a disaster caused by the overconsumption of plastics.


So what is Plastic?

It is a chain of molecules (polymers) that are strung together in a repetitive format - to give it the typical ‘plasticky’ feel. It is, obviously, not a naturally occurring material, which explains why it does not fit into the eco system and takes anywhere between 500 to a 1000 years to decompose, that too, is an assumption. Plastic is virtually indestructible.

Can we get rid of plastic entirely?

The answer to that, right now is sadly, no - as a material plastic is easy to access, lightweight, stable and sturdy, making it a suitable option in manufacturing across several industries. The real issue is, integrating it into a circular economy - which is where Recycling comes into the picture.

Why should we Recycle plastic?

Plastic products generate approximately 30 million tons of waste each year. Most of this ends up in land fills. Along with polluting our planet - it kills over a million marine animals and millions of sea birds each year, due to oceanic pollution. Unless we take up recycling plastic waste seriously, this figure could go higher. Which means our land and water both face a very grave threat of plastic poisoning.


Not all types of plastic are completely recyclable. Plastics such as Styrofoam, trash bags, zip pouches, bubble wrap, cereal box plastic, clear plastic wrap, potato chips bags, some department store plastic bags, candy wrappers, are some types that cannot be recycled and others can only be recycled a certain number of times before becoming junk.

Recycling plastic has a positive ripple effect on manufacturing businesses across verticals and helps redress several issues plaguing the environment.

Here are some simple benefits of using recycled plastic:

  • Reduces Pollution

    Manufacturing plastic from scratch involves burning petroleum, producing large quantities of greenhouse gases. Recycling plastic instead of manufacturing it from scratch indirectly reduces emission of toxic gases - a major contributor toward climate change.  

  • Requires Less Energy and Helps Conserve Natural Resources

    A ton of recycled plastic saves 7,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity - enough energy to run a household for seven months, according to a study from Stanford University. Around 40% of petroleum consumption can be reduced by simply recycling discarded and old plastic waste. Manufacturing plastic from scratch requires natural resources such as water, petroleum, natural gas and coal as raw material. Recycling plastic saves precious natural resources which can be used in other economically viable areas. 

  • Saves Fast-depleting Landfill Space

    A growing human population means that habitable land is becoming more and more valuable with each passing day. Proper waste management through reusing and recycling of plastics can save significant amount of landfill space. 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space can be saved by recycling 1 ton of plastic

  • Generates employment and Promotes a Sustainable Lifestyle

    Plastic recycling can be labour intensive due to the sorting which is required to be done by hand despite using the most sophisticated machinery. Businesses greatly impact the lifestyle of communities in which they operate. If businesses work along with their internal and external stakeholders towards creating awareness and promoting positive impacts of plastic reuse and recycling, they are bound to bring about a sea change towards environment conservation


Types of plastic and what they can become post recycling:

We cannot get rid of plastic entirely right now. There are currently approximately 7 billion people on the planet - if each person decides to monitor their plastic consumption, we can make a huge difference to the quality of each living being’s life on the planet. Every human being matters. Every effort counts.

These 10 rivers carry over 90% of plastic waste into the oceans.  Data from “Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea” by Christian Schmidt, Tobias Krauth, and Stephan Wagner, published in Environmental Science & Technology (2017)

These 10 rivers carry over 90% of plastic waste into the oceans.
Data from 
“Export of Plastic Debris by Rivers into the Sea” by Christian Schmidt, Tobias Krauth, and Stephan Wagner, published in Environmental Science & Technology (2017)

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As circular economies and sustainability gain momentum globally, recycled PET (rPET) has emerged as an eco-friendly packaging alternative minimizing plastic waste. But what exactly are RPET sheets? Let's explore why this versatile material promises durability alongside circular benefits. What is PET plastic? PET or polyethylene terephthalate plastic is commonly extracted from crude oil for making plastic bottles, containers, fibers etc, given its strength, transparency, processability and non-toxic properties. However, PET'S durability also makes waste management challenging with 500+ years for decomposition. Fortunately, PET is 100% recyclable. With nearly 30% global PET usage in water bottles, classification and recycling is possible for giving used PET renewed life. This is where RPET steps in. What are RPET Sheets? RPET or recycled PET sheets are made by reforming post-consumer, used PET into durable plastic sheets ideal for packaging applications. With up to 100% PCR content, RPET sheets skip oil refinement, saving significant carbon emissions. RPET sheets retain innate PET properties like high strength, flexibility, transparency and barriers while eliminating virgin plastic dependency. The remanufacturing process with automated sorting even removes over 30ppm impurities for compliance. Benefits of RPET Plastic Sheets: 🔹 Circular material flows reducing oil usage, waste and carbon footprint 🔹 USFDA approved food-contact compliant production for safety 🔹 Custom fabrication possible for tailored packaging solutions 🔹 High transparency showing off product aesthetics 🔹 Excellent oxygen and moisture stability Applications of RPET Sheets: The sustainable and high-performing properties of RPET plastic sheets make them ideal for food, medical, consumer goods and industrial packaging. Some applications include: ▫️ Thermoformed trays/clamshells, boxes & disposable containers ▫️ Medical device pouches & pharmaceutical cartons ▫️ Household product, toy & electronic accessories packaging ▫️ Printed blisters, clamshells and disposable plates/cups Durable, transparent and ethically produced - RPET sheets check all boxes as the packaging material of the future. A small step today towards recycled plastics can empower circular supply chains for generations. The Recycled PET sheets from Aerofibre are made from post-consumer PET bottles which undergo a thorough cleaning, sorting & shredding process. These are then transformed into high quality sheets. We are proud to be part of the solution to the global plastic waste problem and look forward to continuing to innovate and offer sustainable products to our customers. Contact us to know more.
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