vPET vs rPET
vPET vs rPET
In the move towards a circular economy, the packaging industry is placing greater weight on material choice. For clear, strong beverage bottles, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remains the most common option. However, where that PET comes from—virgin PET (vPET) or recycled PET (rPET)—makes a meaningful difference to environmental impact and long-term supply security.
vPET and rPET: what is the difference?
Feature
Source material
Manufacturing energy
Carbon footprint
Quality and purity
Supply chain
vPET
Made entirely from fossil fuels (crude oil or natural gas) through polymerisation.
High energy demand due to extraction, refining and polymerisation.
Higher, due to reliance on non-renewable resources and energy-intensive production.
Consistently uniform, food-grade material; often preferred for demanding applications.
Exposed to fluctuations in global oil and gas markets.
rPET
Made from used PET bottles and packaging that have been collected, sorted, cleaned and reprocessed.
Typically much lower energy use (often 50–80% less), as the material is already in polymer form.
Lower, as it diverts waste from landfill and reduces the need for new fossil-based feedstocks.
With modern “super-clean” recycling and decontamination, rPET can achieve near-identical quality, meeting the strict regulatory standards required for food and beverage packaging.
Strengthens local collection and recycling systems and creates a domestic material stream, improving resilience.
Feature
Source
material
Manufacturing
energy
Carbon
footprint
Quality and
purity
Supply
chain
vPET
Made entirely from fossil fuels (crude oil or natural gas) through polymerisation.
High energy demand due to extraction, refining and polymerisation.
Higher, due to reliance on non-renewable resources and energy-intensive production.
Consistently uniform, food-grade material; often preferred for demanding applications.
Exposed to fluctuations in global oil and gas markets.
rPET
Made from used PET bottles and packaging that have been collected, sorted, cleaned and reprocessed.
Typically much lower energy use (often 50–80% less), as the material is already in polymer form.
Lower, as it diverts waste from landfill and reduces the need for new fossil-based feedstocks.
With modern “super-clean” recycling and decontamination, rPET can achieve near-identical quality, meeting the strict regulatory standards required for food and beverage packaging.
Strengthens local collection and recycling systems and creates a domestic material stream, improving resilience.
Navigating the New Regulatory Landscape
At the heart of the work is a clear aim: to keep plastic out of landfill and reduce overall environmental impact.
Meeting the Demand of Eco-conscious Consumers
Consumers are paying closer attention to packaging choices and are looking for options that reduce waste. In many cases, vPET is the traditional baseline, while rPET offers a clear advantage: it can deliver the strength and protective properties PET is known for, while keeping materials in use rather than treating them as disposable.
Our Key Priorities
Optimise Material Use
Maximising the use of high-quality rPET wherever it is technically suitable.
Design for Circularity
Supporting a packaging system that is designed to be circular by default.
Clear Communication
Promote education around recycling and provide transparent information and data to enable informed choices.
Optimize Material Use
Maximising the use of high-quality rPET wherever it is technically suitable.
Design for Circularity
Supporting a packaging system that is designed to be circular by default.
Clear Communication
Promote education around recycling and provide transparent information and data to enable informed choices.