According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), more than 82 million metric tons of PET are produced globally each year for use in single-use beverage bottles, packaging, clothing, and carpets, making it one of the largest sources of plastic waste.
Approximately 80% of plastic water bottles are disposed of in landfills, where it can take them up to 450 years to decompose. During this decomposition process, they do not biodegrade but instead transform into microplastics that release harmful chemicals into the soil, adversely affecting the environment.
