Part of a series of four new technology studies from Pira assessing the very latest innovations and killer applications in plastics technology for packaging.
Plastics are the fastest-growing materials for packaging, and PET is one of the fastest-growing and most adaptable plastics. Increasingly PET is the material of choice for brand owners, from rigid applications in beverage bottles, through to flexible lidding films and shrink sleeves. Key benefits of PET include its supply chain performance, recyclability and lightweighting capability as well as a favourable cost/performance ratio.
These characteristics make PET an attractive option, boosted further by the level and speed of technology advancement. PET offers good barrier properties, which benefits shelf life, but can be used in conjunction with active packaging, such as oxygen scavengers. PET is also likely to benefit from nanotechnology advancements.
This study encapsulates the full range of PET issues currently under discussion, including:
PET material production technology
Potential applications/commercialisations/sectors
Barrier properties
Active packaging enhancement
Regulatory and environmental issues
Market growth/developing threats
Key players