Chloe Zhang
PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a strong, stiff synthetic material that is used to make bottles and jars. In 2016, 485 billion PET bottles were produced worldwide, and it is estimated that 583.3 billion will be produced in 2021. PET is one of the largest sources of plastic waste, with more than 82 million metric tons produced globally each year. While the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Global PET bottle production in 2016 | 485 billion |
| Forecasted global PET bottle production in 2021 | 583.3 billion |
| Global PET production each year | 82 million metric tons |
| Global plastics production in 2016 | 335 million metric tons |
| Percentage of global plastics production slated for single-use in 2016 | 50% |
| US plastics generation in 2018 | 35.7 million tons |
| US plastics generation as a percentage of MSW generation in 2018 | 12.2% |
| US recycling rate of PET bottles and jars in 2018 | 29.1% |
What You'll Learn
How much PET plastic is made each year
More than 82 million metric tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced globally each year to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets. PET is a widely used thermoplastic polymer, with an annual global production of 70Mt and annual growth of more than 4%. In 2016, some 485 billion PET bottles were produced, and it is forecasted that in 2021, some 583.3 billion of these plastic bottles will be produced.
In 2019, Americans purchased more than 50 billion single-use bottles per year. Humans buy about 1,000,000 single-use plastic bottles per minute.
Of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually, 32% ends up in a waterway. By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.
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How much PET plastic is recycled
In 2016, world plastics production totalled approximately 335 million metric tons, and roughly half of that was slated for single-use. More than 82 million metric tons of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is produced globally each year to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets, and it is one of the largest sources of plastic waste. In 2016, some 485 billion PET bottles were produced, and it is forecasted that in 2021, some 583.3 billion of these plastic bottles will be produced.
The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, according to the EPA. The Recycling Partnership reports that 28% of PET bottles are being recycled. In 2023, the collection rate reached the highest level in nearly 30 years due to growth in PET plastic bottles collected and fewer bottles available for recycling compared to 2022. The US collected 1,962 million pounds of PET bottles for recycling in 2023, the highest annual weight for US bottle collection ever recorded, up from 1,911 million pounds in 2022, an increase of 2.7%.
The picture for PET bottle recycling varies across the world, with some countries achieving high recycling rates mainly due to the presence of Deposit Return Systems (DRS), while others have lower recycling rates when only employing separate collection systems. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018 in the US, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. Other types of PET packaging like plastic egg cartons, fruit containers, trays, and tubs are recycled at a significantly lower rate – 9%.
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How much PET plastic is used for single-use products
In 2016, world plastics production totalled approximately 335 million metric tons, and roughly half of that was slated for single-use. Of this, 485 billion PET bottles were produced, and it is forecasted that in 2021, some 583.3 billion of these plastic bottles will be produced.
More than 82 million metric tons of PET is produced globally each year to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets, and it is one of the largest sources of plastic waste. PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a strong, stiff synthetic material that is part of the thermoplastics family. This means it can be heated, melted, and cooled into many shapes and sizes. It is made from a combination of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, derived from petroleum and natural gas.
PET is popular within the manufacturing sector for producing bottles and jars. Almost every plastic bottle is made from PET. It's suitable for a range of beverages, including carbonated drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices, and bottled water. The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1 per cent in 2018. While this is higher than the overall recycling rate for plastics, it is still relatively small.
The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons.
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How much PET plastic is used for bottles
PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a strong, stiff synthetic material that is part of the thermoplastics family. This means it can be heated, melted, and cooled into many shapes and sizes. It is used to make bottles and jars, with almost every plastic bottle made from PET. It is suitable for a range of beverages, including carbonated drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices, and bottled water.
In 2016, world plastics production totalled approximately 335 million metric tons, and roughly half of that was slated for single-use. In the same year, 485 billion PET bottles were produced, and it is forecasted that in 2021, some 583.3 billion of these plastic bottles will be produced.
The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons.
More than 82 million metric tons of PET is produced globally each year to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets. It is one of the largest sources of plastic waste.
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How much PET plastic is used for packaging
PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a strong, stiff synthetic material that is part of the thermoplastics family. This means it can be heated, melted, and cooled into many shapes and sizes. It is used to make bottles and jars, and almost every plastic bottle is made from PET. It is suitable for a range of beverages, including carbonated drinks, still and dilutable drinks, fruit juices, and bottled water.
In 2016, world plastics production totalled approximately 335 million metric tons, and roughly half of that was slated for single-use. That same year, 485 billion PET bottles were produced, and it is forecasted that in 2021, some 583.3 billion of these plastic bottles will be produced. More than 82 million metric tons of PET is produced globally each year to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets. It is one of the largest sources of plastic waste.
The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons.
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Frequently asked questions
Over 82 million metric tons of PET plastic is produced globally each year.
PET plastic is used to make single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets.
In 2016, roughly half of the 335 million metric tons of plastic produced globally was slated for single-use.
In 2018, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1%.
