Most of the team members here at BottleOne<\/a> have been in the beverage bottling industry for decades. Their extensive experience shows that consumers prefer PET plastic packaging above all others. In this article, I’m going to talk about 8 reasons PET is superior to HDPE. But here\u2019s where this article is different from every other one you\u2019ll find on this topic \u2013 we are going to address these reasons from the consumer\u2019s perspective<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have watched the popularity of PET plastic rise since the \u201870s. We can tell you from firsthand experience, not all plastic packaging is created equal. PET plastic has unique qualities that consumers love. Many of these trends are continuing to grow, as the popularity of PET becomes more prevalent. Let\u2019s get started on the list of 8 attributes of PET plastic that consumers crave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET preserves the taste and natural nutrition of milk. There are many factors that can influence taste and nutrition. These include light, oxygen, temperature and microorganisms. Products packaged in PET taste better than HDPE because PET retains the taste and nutrition by providing much better oxygen barrier properties (50 times higher than HDPE<\/a>). You can read more about this on page 2 of this Virginia Tech Study<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest consumer trends at the moment is package clarity. Consumers want to see what they are buying. They care about this more now than ever before. There is excellent clarity in PET. It is a very clear material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These benefits are easy to see when the container is full. The colors and textures are more vivid and vibrant. One customer said our gallon jug looks like an ice sculpture. This clarity is something consumers love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Milk illustrates this point well, so let\u2019s use that as our example. As a consumer, you\u2019ve likely experienced leaky HDPE milk containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019ve seen the milk spilled in the dairy case at the supermarket, in your car or in your refrigerator \u2013 you\u2019ve seen it leak through the cap. If milk is leaking out of the container, other contaminants might be getting into the container via the same pathway that milk is getting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason this happens is because those HDPE plastic milk jugs cannot be properly sealed. Now let\u2019s think of a 2-liter bottle of soda. It is typically packaged in PET plastic, which allows a precision (hermetic) seal and ensures those containers don\u2019t leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike other plastics, the finish (top inch) of a PET bottle has a very tight dimensional tolerance, so you\u2019re going to get a hermetically sealed package every time. This aspect of PET saves the consumer and the retailer a lot of worry and headache, not to mention the messes they\u2019ll no longer have to clean up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the early days of consumer packaging, most foods were packaged in glass. You probably remember what it was like when one of those glass bottles shattered. It created an unsafe environment for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET plastic is safe. It\u2019s durable, shatter resistant and the containers can be accidentally dropped without breakage. Another aspect of PET which affects safety is that PET resin does not contain BPA<\/a>. It\u2019s non-toxic. The resin and its associate compounds are biologically \u201cinert\u201d if ingested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET plastic is also scratch-resistant, which is something else consumers like. With PET, your customers will feel safe with your products in their homes and around their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recyclability and sustainability remain important consumer trends as people become more conscious of preserving our planet for future generations. PET is the world\u2019s most recycled plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The global shortage of recycled PET makes recycle code 1 the most valuable component of the plastics recycling stream. PET recycle code 1 is the only plastic with an existing circular economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BottleOne carries the PET recycle code 1 and therefore can be recycled back into itself (closed loop) ad infinitum. There are many companies willing to purchase recycled PET. The addition of major segments like the gallon and half gallon bottles into the PET circular economy cannot be overstated: volume, efficiency, scale and economics in recycling operations will be systemically enhanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BottleOne\u2019s PET containers can be manufactured with up to 100% post-consumer recycled PET resin. PET has a very low carbon footprint and is a highly sustainable market material for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consumers want to use a product that is good for the environment. They also want a product that is not going to end up in a landfill or incinerator. PET presents a positive environmental footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET resin on its own has a high strength to weight ratio. The more PET resin stretches, the stronger it becomes. When PET is stretched in the blow molding process, it becomes very strong. It\u2019s a lot stronger on a per weight basis when compared to other plastics. Traditionally, PET plastic is much stronger and lighter weight than HDPE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BottleOne\u2019s unique patented design adds to the inherent strength of PET, making it the strongest gallon bottle (of similar weight) available. Consumers love the strength and weight of PET. Also, from what we\u2019ve seen, food and beverage companies, personal care companies and household products companies gravitate toward the usability of this type of container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who doesn\u2019t like a unique shaped plastic container? Because of PET\u2019s design flexibility, you can offer consumers containers that are shaped to match your marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET allows you to create irregular shaped bottles and move them through the supply chain without them getting damaged. This, combined with the other PET factors on this list, accounts for the widespread adoption of PET over the last three decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PET typically costs a little more than HDPE, but when you consider how much BottleOne\u2019s PET saves throughout the entire supply chain (eliminates secondary packaging, less shipping costs, etc.) the economics of PET once again make sense. You can read more about that in the Cost Comparison between a BottleOne PET Bottle and an HDPE Jug.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n But again, let\u2019s steer this conversation back to the consumer. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for a product packaged in a sustainable container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this year, Trivium Packaging and the Boston Consulting Group released their research which shows that 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for a product in environmentally-friendly packaging<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve barely scratched the surface on all the reasons PET plastic packaging is the superior choice. At BottleOne, we are excited because our PET bottles provide a better package throughout the entire supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAll Plastic Packaging Is Not Created Equal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. PET Preserves Taste and Nutrition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. PET Plastic Has Unsurpassed Clarity (The Optics Are Spectacular)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bottleone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/pet-plastic-fruit-juice.jpg\")
3. PET Packaging Can Be Hermetically Sealed (No More Leaks)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bottleone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/PET-plastic-does-not-leak.jpg\")
4. PET Is Safer (It\u2019s Shatter Resistant)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. PET Plastic Is 100% Recyclable (High Sustainability)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bottleone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/PET-plastic-is-sustainable-1.jpg\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n6. PET Is Stronger (Yet Lighter Weight)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bottleone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/BottleOne-PET-plastic-bottle.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n7. PET Offers Design Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. PET Plastic is Economical<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n