What is PET Polyethylene Terephthalate?

Posted by John Smith on July 21st, 2017

We’ve all probably heard that PETisn’t as hazardous as normal plastic is, but do any of us even understand what PET is and why it's so different than the other plastics? We’re here to teach you what PET is and why it’s so much better for you.

PET: A Much Safer Plastic

PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate, and you use it almost every day. It's the clear plastic that makes up all the plastic water bottles we use. While plastic is considered to be hazardous because of all the chemicals, it contains, PET is the latest type of plastic that is now recognized as safe throughout the world. Unlike other plastic bottles which are considered toxic because they contaminate the water in them with all the chemicals within the plastic, PET is not toxic at all.

It is 100% recyclable, lightweight despite its strength, strong and durable. In fact, out of all the kinds of plastic out there, PET is the most recycled plastic worldwide! Because of all these reasons, the PET trend is catching on and gaining a lot of popularity.

How to Identify PET?

To make sure that you’re buying water bottles made of PET, you can identify the bottle by looking for the #1 resin identification code on the bottle. This #1 code will be enclosed in the middle of three chasing arrows. So make the smarter, healthier choice for not only yourself but also the planet by only using bottles that are identified with the #1 marker.

Are Plastic Bottles the Best Option?

Now we’ve established that the PET bottles themselves aren’t a threat to your health so far, but what about the actual water in the bottles? Is it worth the price to continue buying bottled water, when you can use tap water for so much cheaper? Here’s the thing, mostly bottled water that we all think is super safe and healthy is just regular old tap water sold in a fancy plastic bottle with a sticker slapped on top. And it costs so much more than using tap water. Sure, it doesn’t seem like a lot right now, but think of how many plastic bottles you buy in the whole year. That adds up to a huge amount all spent on bottled water instead of using tap water.

Use a Purifier Water System Instead

The only way to stop using bottled water is to start using tap water. But tap water isn’t safe either, so you should work to filter the water. And what’s the best filter for water out there? The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher, available at the low price of only .95. Although a small scale purifier water system, the Aquagear is known to remove the maximum number of harmful substances from tap water.

We’ve told you the best filter for water, and we’ve explained why you need it. So stop spending on PET bottles or any plastic bottles and start filtering your tap water at home.