Polyethylene Terephthalate

Other names: PET, PETE

Harm score: 4 (Slightly harmful chemistry)

Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE, is a type of plastic that is one of the most widely used materials in industry. This substance is widely used mainly due to its low cost, durability and versatility. Among other things, PET is known for being safe for use in the food industry - for example, it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for direct contact with food.

PET is used in many everyday products. It is best known for its use in the beverage industry to make lightweight, durable and recyclable bottles for water, soda or juice. Due to its resistance to gas permeation, PET is also used for food packaging, for example for salads, fruit or baked goods. Another area is the production of textiles from polyester fibres, i.e. modern man-made textiles. PET is also used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of medicine bottles, as a material for cosmetics packaging, durable and lightweight packaging for electronics and a host of other products.