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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic belongs to group 1 plastic. With basic properties such as: Transparency, light weight, high durability and stable heat resistance, they are widely used in many fields such as: Electronic equipment, automotive industry, packaging & packaging or medical equipment. In particular, type 1 plastic is assessed by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) as a group that can come into direct contact with food and ensure the health of consumers. However, there are still many doubts about the safety of PET plastic in fields that directly affect human health. In this article, EuroPlas will provide an overview of PET plastic, sending customers the most detailed answer to the question "Is PET plastic safe?". Finally, our team will help you know the key notes when producing PET plastic and using them in life. Refer now!

1. Overview of PET plastic

PET plastic has the scientific name Polyethylene terephthalate, classified by experts as polyester plastic. The PET production process will be a combination of pure terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Under the chemical polymerization reaction at standard temperature, the above reaction will produce linear polymer fibers with the chemical formula C10H8O4, with typical properties such as: Transparency, light weight, thermal stability, chemical resistance as well as the ability to be recycled after a long time of use.

If HDPE belongs to plastic group number 2 and PP belongs to group number 5, PET plastics belong to group number 1, this is the group used for packaging and is qualified to come into direct contact with the product without affecting the health of consumers. Because it is a pure thermoplastic, PET has the ability to change shape flexibly as well as easily adapt to additives or other types of plastic during processing at high temperatures.

In particular, the thermal stability of PET plastic has been proven when their chemical structure is not affected or changed when cooled at -90 degrees Celsius as well as heated to 200 degrees Celsius. That is the reason why PET plastic is widely used in the field of manufacturing automotive parts, electronic equipment, construction materials, etc.

In addition, the practicality and high applicability of PET plastic are largely supported by the following key characteristics:

• Light weight: Density of amorphous PET: 1,370 grams/cm3; crystalline PET: 1,445 grams/cm3. This feature brings a great advantage in reducing the weight of final products without affecting the mechanical properties. Therefore, PET plastic is a suitable choice in the transportation, packaging or product packaging industry.

• Tensile strength and strength: The tensile strength of PET plastic reaches 44.4MPa with an estimated impact resistance of about 3.6 kJ/m2. The sustainable premise helps them withstand impacts from the outside environment. Therefore, construction materials, automotive equipment or industrial equipment all have the presence of PET raw materials to enhance product durability and life.

Is PET plastic safe when it is used in many real products?

Chemical resistance: PET plastic is used for food packaging and medical equipment manufacturing because it can resist strong chemicals such as acids and solvents. Therefore, PET plastic products can partially prevent the attack of bacteria and toxins from the outside environment to ensure product safety and quality. Thermal stability: As EuroPlas mentioned above, "The chemical structure of PET plastic will not be affected even when heated to about 200 degrees Celsius or remade at -90 degrees Celsius.

These are the basic advantages of PET plastic. Moreover, the market and consumers also set strict requirements for everyday plastic products. Typical of which are the questions "Is PET plastic recyclable?" as well as "How safe and environmentally friendly is PET plastic?". EuroPlas will answer these two questions in turn in the following sections. Don't miss it!

2. Is PET plastic safe?

PET plastic is one of the plastics in group 1, meeting the conditions & standards for manufacturing products used in everyday life. Therefore, this type of plastic is assessed to not affect the health of consumers if used properly. This is specifically proven through the following The argument is clear as follows:

Director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine - Dr. Truong Hong Son shared with Tuoi Tre newspaper on June 24, 2023: "Currently, there are 7 types of plastic that are assessed to not affect the health of consumers and are applied in many areas of life. In particular, PET plastic or polyethylene terephthalate belongs to group 1 and is often used to contain or package products in both solid and liquid forms." He also added that PET plastic is still safe at normal temperature conditions and users should not expose them to high temperatures for long periods of time.

FDA and the world health and safety agency have also tested products made from PET plastic and made detailed comments as follows: Bisphenol - A (BPA) and Phthalates (Plasticizers) are not found in the chemical structure of PET, these are 2 groups of substances that can cause cancer if exposed for a long time. In addition, polyethylene terephthalate plastic is also recommended for use in the food & beverage industry because they are not only safe for health but also have a reasonable price. In particular, tests on the quality and safety of PET plastic in various fields are conducted periodically every year and circulated by the world health agency.

PET plastic beads are transparent and tested to not contain compounds that affect health.

At present, there are many daily consumer products made from PET plastic, which proves that their safety is still guaranteed. However, the issue of the recyclability of plastics in general and PET in particular is always a "headache" for the authorities of countries. Let's find out the answer in the next section below!

3. Safety of PET plastic for the environment

PET plastic is not only safe but also fully meets the conditions for use in specific fields. Recycling PET plastic helps save a significant amount of petroleum and natural gas resources when producing other types of plastic.

Moreover, the recycling process has contributed significantly to the strategy of reducing the greenhouse effect and global climate change. PET plastic is classified as a recyclable group, so it is considered safe and environmentally friendly. In addition, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic has become a suitable choice in many areas of life, typically as follows:

• Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG): PET plastic is produced into bottles, jars, and packaged drinks.

• Fashion: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic is also a raw material that contributes to the creation of jewelry, accessories, and clothing. These are usually reusable products that do not cause skin irritation to customers.

• Construction materials: Because of its thin, light, heat-resistant and durable properties, PET plastic is used to produce floors and insulated floors.

The above applications have partly demonstrated the safety and environmental friendliness of PET plastic. However, plastic materials in general and PET plastic in particular all have the potential to produce toxins that affect health if the recycling and use process does not comply with strict regulations. Basically, the safest recycling of PET plastic must ensure the following specific processes: Collection and classification, cleaning and grinding of plastic, and processing of new products.

In addition, the reuse of PET plastic brings certain benefits to the environment, typically as follows:

• Direct impact on the protection of the soil and water environment because the annual volume of plastic waste is close to 220 million tons. Reusing PET plastic contributes to the development of natural flora and fauna ecosystems.

• Instead of continuing to exploit natural oil resources to produce plastic, manufacturers can reduce that frequency by recycling PET plastic products. Therefore, we are contributing to reducing the pressure on exploiting natural resources and continuing to create the premise for the development of the ecosystem.

 PET plastic is recyclable and environmentally safe. 

Although recycled PET plastic is safe for consumers' health and environmentally friendly, plastic bottle products made from PET are recommended to be replaced after 15 - 20 days of use and the best temperature is below 40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the quality of raw materials will decrease after many recycling times and there is the possibility of producing compounds: antimony and bromate compounds that can cause cancer.

4. Notes when using PET plastic

Although PET plastic is tested to be safe for consumers' health and is recyclable, daily use will directly affect the deformation and changes in the chemical and physical structure of PET plastic products. This still contains toxins that affect our health. Therefore, EuroPlas will suggest to customers 4 key notes to use PET plastic in the safest and most effective way:

• Avoid exposure to high temperatures for a long time: Pure PET pellets can withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius during processing. However, this index has decreased when they are transformed into final products. Therefore, consumers should avoid exposing PET plastic products to high temperatures for a long time. For example, do not use plastic containers to microwave. This will cause the product to melt and produce toxins. Avoiding sunlight and high-temperature areas such as kitchens, microwaves, etc. is also a way to increase the quality of PET plastic beads.

• Do not reuse many times: Although PET plastic is completely recyclable, its quality will gradually decrease after recycling and this is a good condition for toxins and bacteria to grow.

• Follow the instructions for use: For each plastic product in general, the manufacturer provides full safety standards and detailed instructions for use. Consumers need to strictly follow these to ensure health safety and maintain product life at the most standard level. Usually, the instructions for use will revolve around the preservation method, the advantages and disadvantages of the product, consumers rely on that to minimize product complications.

• Regularly check product quality: Consumers need to periodically check the plastic products used in daily life. Customers need to carefully check the shape, surface and physical properties of the product. If you find that the product is deformed or emits an unpleasant odor, it must be discarded immediately. PET plastic products that are "over-aged" will emit an unpleasant odor and have a cracked surface.

The use of PET resin must comply with the instructions for use.

In general, PET plastic is assessed to not affect the health of consumers and is environmentally friendly. However, this factor can only be maximized if manufacturers comply with the process of PET plastic granule characteristics during processing. Moreover, consumers also need to remember the notes during use

5. About EuroPlas

EuroPlas is proud to be one of the manufacturers of quality Filler Masterbatches suitable for products made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Filler Masterbatches are considered the perfect solution for upgrading the basic properties of plastic products in general and PET materials in particular. The basic properties include: durability, hardness, impact resistance, etc.

By combining selected filler masterbatches with PET, EuroPlas filler resins not only optimize material usage but also ensure excellent processability during production. With our filler masterbatches, you can improve the cost-effectiveness of your PET products without compromising performance or quality.

Currently, filler masterbatch products have reached a series of demanding markets such as Europe, America and are strategic partners of thousands of factories in more than 95 countries around the world. EuroPlas not only provides quality filler masterbatch but also color masterbatch (color plastic granules) for PET plastic products. Color plastic granules at EuroPlas are produced by a team of experienced staff with a modern equipment chain system. Therefore, they bring precision in each specific color group for the product. Thereby, contributing to improving the synchronous aesthetics of the product and the outstanding color of the brand.

Recycling PET plastic requires full compliance with production conditions and understanding of product characteristics to always maintain raw material quality.

If you are looking for plastic granule materials combined with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, please contact EuroPlas immediately!

EuroPlas has provided customers with an overview of the PET plastic line. In addition, the article has answered the question "Is PET plastic safe?". In addition, EuroPlas also helps readers gain a more detailed understanding of the PET plastic recycling process as well as an objective assessment of the environmental friendliness of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Please continue to follow EuroPlas to get the latest news about the market and plastic products around the world!