Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) (C10H8O4) n is a type of plastic!
PET is popular because it’s strong and can be made into lots of things, like water bottles, soda or cold drink bottles, and even some clothing fabrics. Imagine the clear, hard plastic bottle you drink water or soda from; that’s made of PET. It’s special because it can be recycled many times into new products, helping us keep the environment cleaner by reducing waste.
Global Impact
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.
PET Pollution in Bangladesh
In the past 15 years, Bangladesh’s urban per capita plastic use, including a significant amount of PET, has tripled according to the World Bank. Much of this PET waste ends up improperly discarded in landfills and water bodies, leading to pollution and health problems.