Materials & compliance
What is rPET, and how is it different from PET?
Short answer
rPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate: PET bottles and packs that have been collected, sorted, washed, flaked and made into new material. Chemically it is the same polymer as virgin PET, so it forms, seals and recycles the same way. AVI extrudes rPET sheet with 30% to 100% recycled content and makes all its catalogue punnets, clamshells and trays from rPET.
Part of the guide: PET and rPET: the material guide
- Full formRecycled polyethylene terephthalate
- AVI recycled content30% to 100%
- Resin code1 (PET)
AVI's rPET
- rPET Sheets for Thermoforming, Printing & PackagingrPET sheet from AVI Global Plast — 30% to 100% recycled content, 150–1,300 micron range, EN 15343 certified for...
- Starlinger deCON rPET Sheets for Food PackagingAVI's 100% post-consumer rPET sheet, mono-layer, decontaminated on Starlinger deCON technology for food contact. EN...
- Clamshell PunnetsOver 80 clamshell designs in PET and rPET: one-piece hinged lids, tamper-evident closures and cavity depths for...
How rPET is made
- Used PET, mostly bottles, is collected and sorted by colour.
- It is ground into flakes and washed.
- For food use, the flakes are decontaminated at high temperature under vacuum, which removes contaminants to food-contact levels.
- The flakes are melted and extruded into sheet, then thermoformed into punnets, clamshells and trays.
rPET or virgin PET
| rPET | Virgin PET | |
|---|---|---|
| Polymer | PET | PET |
| Source | Used PET | New from oil and gas |
| Clarity | Clear; can be slightly tinted at high recycled content | Clear |
| Carbon footprint | Lower | Higher |
| Plastic taxes | Can qualify for exemptions (for example the UK's 30% threshold) | Taxed in the UK and some EU countries |
Proof of recycled content
A recycled-content claim needs evidence. AVI's recycled content is certified to EN 15343 and verified by Intertek for qualifying grades.
Related questions
Is rPET recyclable?
Yes. rPET goes back into the PET recycling stream and can be recycled again.
Does rPET contain BPA?
PET is not made from bisphenol A (BPA); BPA is used in other plastics such as polycarbonate.
Is rPET safe for food?
Food-contact rPET comes from a decontamination process approved for food use. AVI decontaminates its food-grade rPET with Starlinger deCON technology and supplies documentation for the grade and destination market.