Facts on PET

Symbol Type of material
PETE Polyethylene
terephalate
(PET or PETE)
HDPE High density
polyethylene
(HDPE)
V Polyvinyl chloride
(V or Vinyl or PVC)
LDPE Low density
polyethylene
(LDPE)
PP Polypropylene(PP)
PS Polystyrene (PS)
Other Other
Facts On Pet

Know the Facts

PET plastic (also known as PETE and designated by a recyclable “1”) contains no BPA. Most single-serve plastic bottles, including those for water, soft drinks and juices, are made with PET, which does not contain BPA. PET is globally recognized as a safe, recyclable packaging material.

PET bottles and products are a safe, convenient and recyclable choice. Numerous tests have created a broad scientific consensus that PET is nontoxic and is a safe material for the storage of food and beverages.

Facts on PET supports the efforts of regulators to ensure that plastics are safe for the public through scientific testing and analysis.

For answers to commonly asked questions about PET bottles, please see the National Association for PET Resources (NAPCOR)

PET Safety

The International Life Sciences Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of topics related to food safety, toxicology and risk assessment, has drafted a comprehensive review of PET available as a PDF.

There are numerous sources for accurate information about PET and the plastics industry. We encourage you to learn about PET from knowledgeable sources in the academic and regulatory communities. To submit questions about PET, please e-mail us at facts@factsonpet.com.

Know Your Plastics

Most plastic containers are labeled with a recycling code, a single digit ranging from 1 to 7 that helps recyclers sort the different kinds of plastics in the market. While the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) created the code to facilitate recycling, consumers can use the system to understand what kind of material was used to make a given product.



Type of material Symbol Where is it found
Polyethylene
terephalate
(PET or PETE)		 PETE
  • Soft drinks
  • Juices
  • Single serve water bottles
  • Beer
High density
polyethylene
(HDPE)		 HDPE
  • Cleaning products
  • Industrial products
  • Personal care products
  • Garbage bags
Polyvinyl chloride
(V or Vinyl or PVC)		 V
  • Medical tubing
  • Construction products
Low density
polyethylene
(LDPE)		 HDPE
  • Dry cleaning bags
  • Shopping bags
  • Plastic food wrap
Polypropylene
(PP)		 PP
  • Squeezable condiment bottles
  • Margarine containers
  • Food storage containers
Polystyrene
(PS)		 PS
  • Styrofoam containers
  • Disposable cutlery, cups and bowls
  • Take-out food containers
Other Other

This catch-all category contains any plastics that do not fit within the other six categories:

  • Polycarbonate
    • Refillable plastic bottles
    • Baby bottles
    • Metal food can liners
    • Consumer electronics
  • Biodegradable resins
    • Food and beverage packaging
  • Other plastics