Sustainability performance of polyethylene terephthalate, clarifying challenges and opportunities

Abstract

Publications on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) continue to increase including the number of publications on recycling. PET is a versatile material with the ability to be remade from its polymer state through mechanical recycling and even back to its original monomer through advanced recycling. The scale of PET's use affords continued research and applications in improved recycling. Publications on new uses of discarded PET and the ability to clean and convert it into many forms including alternative materials are expanding with an attempt to complete circular use or improve the end of life. As indicated in life cycle assessment studies, increases in recycling lower the energy required to manufacture products. The future for PET will reduce energy demands further with the largest breakthroughs in recycling technologies and bio‐sourced resins trending toward zero energy and carbon negative solutions. Opportunities remain for improvement in the use of PET with light weighting. The testing of new resins, development of bio‐feedstocks, improvements in engineering, processing, recycling, and design continue to provide benefits. This review provides context for these developments.

Double-Porous PET Waste-Derived Nanofibrous Aerogel for Effective Broadband Acoustic Absorption and Transmission

“…by virtue of its low weight, durability, excellent wear, chemical resistance, and low market price. , More than 350 000 tons of PET were consumed in 1987, and this number has rapidly exploded . Among the PET recycling classifications of (a) primary or mechanical recycling, (b) secondary or chemical recycling, and (c) tertiary recycling or the recovery of stored energy by means of incineration, − mechanical recycling and chemical upcycling are considered the most promising strategies, because incineration and landfill deposition are more polluting; for the latter, PET waste completely loses its value. , Mechanical processes such as pulverization, extrusion, and melt processing may require low cost operation but the recycled product is generally of low value . On the other hand, chemical recyclingsolvolysis (hydrolysis, methanolysis, and glycolysis) and other chemical recycling techniques (catalytic depolymerization and enzymatic depolymerization)has great potential in the circular economy of plastics as it can close the loop by yielding monomers, petroleum liquids, and gases that may be reprocessed to produce high-value-added chemicals .…”

Toward Sustainable Wearable Electronic Textiles

“…PET bottles can be recycled, with 94% of UK city councils now collecting such bottles either from the domestic home or at recycling centers . Nowadays, the importance of recycling PET bottles through both mechanical and chemical processes has been recognized, as well as the need to establish circular usage and improved end-of-life disposal . PET, a semicrystalline thermoplastic, is the most widely used polymer for industrial applications such as textile fibers and food packaging because of its superior mechanical, chemical and barrier properties, combined with good processability, low cost, and recyclability .…”

“…57 Nowadays, the importance of recycling PET bottles through both mechanical and chemical processes has been recognized, 58 as well as the need to establish circular usage and improved end-of-life disposal. 59 PET, a semicrystalline thermoplastic, is the most widely used polymer for industrial applications such as textile fibers and food packaging because of its superior mechanical, chemical and barrier properties, combined with good processability, 60 low cost, and recyclability. 61 Indeed, postconsumer PET bottles have become a popular choice for recycling into useful products such as textile fibers due to their chemical stability, mechanical strength, and fluid resistance.…”

Synthesis by Melt-Polymerization of a Novel Series of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Thiophene-Containing Copolyesters with Promising Gas Barrier and High Thermomechanical Properties

“…Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used polyesters, due to its unique properties such as durability, cost effectiveness, light weight, and transparency. However, its non-degradable profile and limited barrier to gas properties have drawn criticism of this material in packaging and bottle-grade applications [ 37 , 38 ]. By designing all-in-one materials incorporating these unique material properties, scientists have moved onto two known classes of polyesters with exceptional characteristics, such as thiophene-based biopolymers derived from 2,5-thiophene dicarboxylic acid (TDCA), and furan-based biopolymers derived from 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), both of which have the potential to be 100% renewable.…”