Green packaging "new darling": Can food-grade rPET plastic help brands achieve net zero goals?
author: Annie
2025-06-13
At a time when sustainable development has become a core competitiveness of global business, more and more brands are incorporating the goal of "net zero emissions" into their strategic blueprints. As an environmentally friendly material that can be used for food packaging, food grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (FRP) is rapidly becoming a key tool for companies to achieve green transformation.
— 1 — Consumers favor rPET demand surge
According to a 2023 Nielsen study, 73% of consumers worldwide are willing to change their purchasing habits to reduce the impact on the environment. This trend has led to the widespread adoption of food-grade rPET packaging materials in the food and beverage industry. Brands not only meet consumers' demands for environmental protection, but also win market favorability and loyalty through green packaging.
However, the market supply and demand of rPET is facing an imbalance. In 2024, global rPET production capacity will only increase by 7%, while demand will increase by 12%. The shortage of raw materials is mainly due to limited recycling systems and fierce competition among industries for waste plastics. This highlights the importance of establishing a reliable supply chain.
— 2 —rPET helps companies achieve net zero commitments
Companies’ public commitment to “net zero emissions” is not only good for the environment, but also greatly improves their brand image. The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer shows that companies with clear net zero plans have an average increase in consumer trust of 15%. The use of food-grade rPET provides companies with a practical and feasible carbon reduction solution, which perfectly fits the concept of circular economy.
rPET has multiple environmental advantages:
1. Reduce the use of virgin plastics: it can reduce up to 90% of fossil-based plastic dependence;
2. Energy saving and emission reduction: the production of rPET saves 50% energy compared to new plastics, and reduces 1.5 tons of CO₂ per ton;
3. Promote closed-loop recycling: reduce landfill and promote the secondary use of plastics.
4. These advantages make rPET one of the most promising green packaging materials at present.
1. Reduce the use of virgin plastics: it can reduce up to 90% of fossil-based plastic dependence;
2. Energy saving and emission reduction: the production of rPET saves 50% energy compared to new plastics, and reduces 1.5 tons of CO₂ per ton;
3. Promote closed-loop recycling: reduce landfill and promote the secondary use of plastics.
4. These advantages make rPET one of the most promising green packaging materials at present.
— 3 — Global Brand Practice rPET
Food-grade rPET has a wide range of applications and is suitable for a variety of products, including beverage bottles, salad bowls, thermoforming packaging, etc. The actual application cases of major international brands have also set a good example for the industry:
Coca-Cola has pledged to use 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030 and currently uses food-grade rPET in its bottled beverages, reducing carbon emissions per bottle by about 20%.
Unilever uses food-grade rPET in daily chemical products such as shampoo, with the goal of achieving 100% recyclable packaging by 2025, and overall carbon emissions are expected to drop by 15%.
Adopting food-grade rPET plastic is a strategic choice for companies pursuing net zero goals. It meets the expectations of buyers and regulators. rPET reduces emissions and supports the concept of a circular economy. It also enhances brand image.
The rise of food-grade rPET marks the transition of environmentally friendly materials from a "promotional slogan" to an "industry standard." It not only reduces carbon footprint, but also becomes a bridge for brands to fulfill their social responsibilities and win the favor of consumers. However, in the face of rising demand and supply gaps, companies need to pay more attention to selecting compliant, safe and stable material suppliers. In the future, whether rPET can truly become the "hard currency" of the net zero era depends on the upgrading of the recycling system and the unification of industry standards.
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