Thanks to the polymer chemists who formulated polyethylene terephthalate, PET in short, the techniques of packaging have undergone revolutionary changes for the items from the FMCG segment in particular. It was found to be an ideal medium to pack mineral or filtered water, aerated beverages including spirits and liquor, processed syrups, sauces, edible oils, personal care items like shampoo and lotions, detergents, insecticides and industrial oils etc.
Indeed, the FMCG industry found PET to be the most favourable since it was extremely light and unbreakable as compared to the conventional glass, ceramics, tin, and even aluminium. Further the design and size of the packaging too happened to have ample scope for attractive variations and above all, PET packaging meant optimum shelf life. However, environmentalists including the NGT (National Green Tribunal) raised doubts over the PET technology despite scientific studies proving that it is no more harmful and that it can be recycled.
Aptly the chemists have renamed this recyclable material as rPET. And the patented eco-friendly rPET product is known as PET Planet and deemed to be the greenest container on the earth. The credit for this innovative formulation, evolved from a process named Reverte is attributed to Wells Plastics, a UK-based company. Among the prime qualities of the Planet containers are that they are made from sustainable sources sans any contaminating additives in plastics
Apart from being the recyclable packaging medium for both edible and non-edible products, the Planet bottle (TPB), PET and rPET can be reformulated into fibres and fabrics. These are used in the making of novel products like T-shirts, sweaters, windcheaters, winter coats, sports shoes, travel baggage, carpets etc.
Production of the above mentioned three types of containers depends on high precision tooled blow and preform moulds for hot runner systems. This process is applicable for caps and closures too. A hot runner system is an assembly of heated components with applications in plastic injection molds to inject molten plastic into the desired cavities of the mold.