4 Of The Best Products On Shelf Using rPET Today

Sustainability is no longer just a trend. It has become a business imperative, as consumers are now supporting organizations that are committed to protecting the planet.

Plastic can last for hundreds of years. Sadly, most plastics are only used once, so they often end up in landfills, which results in more environmental issues. This problem will only worsen if consumers and organizations do not change how they produce and use plastic materials.

Thankfully, the desire to protect the environment from unnecessary plastic waste is spurring eco-centric trends, not just in communities, but also on a global scale. Instead of following a linear approach, people are focused on moving towards a circular economy to avoid further environmental damages caused by resource extraction. That is why consumers are now choosing more eco-friendly brands, while businesses are banking on rPET for packaging sustainability.

Top rPET Products You Can Find at Home

You might not be aware of this, but you could have products in your fridge or pantry placed inside a container made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate. If you want to know what they are, here are some of the best products that use local rPET today:

Food and Beverages

Excessive packaging waste ends up as litter on the streets or ocean and river pollution, so there is no denying that the beverage sector is a huge part of the problem. For this reason, water and soda companies, like Coca-Cola, are taking a significant step towards sustainability by moving their brands to rPET. Brands have also announced their capacity to use up about 100% of locally-sourced rPET in their food-grade packaging.

Across the food and beverage sector, there's an increasing shift that is moving away from common materials, and either has limited options for recycling or none at all. The transition may take a while, and it is challenging for some businesses to shift to 100% rPET, as many of them use at least 50% recycled plastic. This could still mean reducing thousands of tons of virgin plastic.

Household Cleaning

Cleaning is more satisfying if you know that the products you are using are packaged in recycled PET and not common plastics that eventually become waste materials polluting the planet. Thankfully, the cleaning industry has upped its eco-game by introducing green cleaning.

This is made possible by brands committed to sustainable living. They now offer cleaning products and home textiles, such as rugs and mats, that are made from up to 100% rPET. Detergent bottles and spray containers are also made solely from recycled plastic that can still be reused and recycled. These companies have expressed their strong desire for sustainably-sourced products and environmentally-friendly packaging to help reduce plastic wastes.

Shoes and Clothing

Polyester is one of the most popular materials used in the fashion industry. In fact, almost half of the world's clothing is made from this material. It is derived from crude oil petroleum and a non-renewable resource.

The problem with polyester use is that it isn't sustainable, as this textile is made from PET. Polyester also accounts for about 60% of the world's production of PET. Because of this, Textile Exchange, a non-profit organization, challenged over fifty apparel, textile, and retail companies to increase their use of recycled polyester by 25%.

This initiative worked, and not only have they met their goal but have also exceeded it, as brands are upping their rPET use by 36%. Some large fashion and apparel companies that use rPET today include Adidas, Ikea, Gap, and more. Sustainable shoes and clothes are now widely available.

Beauty and Personal Care

There is no denying that the beauty and personal care sectors are among PET's primary users in packaging. But as the demand for sustainable products grows, beauty and personal care brand owners are pushed to design more environmentally-friendly goods and packaging. They recognize that the growing number of eco-conscious consumers are looking at the quality of products and are evaluating the sustainability of the company or business. 

For this reason, many brands in the industry now offer a range of sustainable packaging options by launching a new line of jars, tubes, and bottles. The components of these containers are made from at least 25% to 100% RPET. Other firms have also introduced makeup bottles and bags made from either 50% or 100% RPET content.

Why are RPET products a trend now?

Thanks to the growing emphasis on sustainability, the market for rPET is expected to continue growing. As consumers have turned to sustainability-committed brands and businesses, companies have followed suit, applying this megatrend in their packaging and overall operation.

Due to the pressure from consumers and special interest groups, some sectors have been forced to change how their products and processes impact their customers, as well as the environment. Many brands were reluctant at first, but they were driven by the powerful impact of committing to sustainability on their bottom line.

So there you have it…

As most consumers now consider the environment when shopping, it is not surprising to find a wide range of brands using rPET on their products. Perhaps, it is also about time for more companies to take part in APCO 2025 Goals. It aims to make 100% of Australian Made and Owned packaging recyclable, reusable, and compostable by 2025.