The evolution of packaging: PET plastic bottles and the future of industrial containers with advanced technologies

Environmental concerns have led to the widespread belief that plastics should disappear due to their negative impact on nature.

However, the packaging industry has taken its responsibility seriously, evolving and actively seeking new ways to manufacture products that are both environmentally respectful and responsible.

The use of PET material marked a major step forward in the development of PET plastic bottles (polyethylene terephthalate), widely adopted for their light weight, strength, and recyclability. At the time, this material represented a significant advancement.

Innovation in packaging, however, has not stopped there. Today, technologies such as extrusion blow molding, coextrusion blow molding, and plasma treatment make it possible to manufacture monolayer and barrier industrial containers with specific technical and environmental performance characteristics.

We will talk about…

1. What are PET plastic bottles?
2. From PET plastic bottles to new packaging solutions
3. APS and the future of industrial packaging: Beyond PET

What are PET plastic bottles?

Plastic bottles—and specifically those made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate)—have long been an effective solution that combines practicality with environmental awareness.

It’s no coincidence that they’ve become one of the most widely used types of packaging worldwide: they’re durable, hard to break, cost-effective, and, most importantly, recyclable. PET is a material with excellent recycling properties, making it a more sustainable choice—provided that consumers manage post-use disposal properly.

PET has been used in the packaging industry since 1976, especially for carbonated beverages, and is known for being lightweight, flexible, transparent, and for not altering the properties of the products it contains.

While PET plastic bottles remain an excellent option for food and consumer goods, the industrial packaging sector has taken things a step further with the adoption of advanced technologies such as extrusion blow molding, coextrusion blow molding, and plasma treatment. These allow for the creation of industrial containers with enhanced properties and high-performance capabilities.

Key characteristics of PET plastic bottles

PET plastic bottles offer a set of essential characteristics that make them a preferred choice in both consumer and industrial packaging:

• Clarity, lightness, and flexibility: Recycled PET bottles are easily recognized for their high transparency and lightweight design, making them practical for a wide range of applications.
• No impact on product quality: PET is a neutral material that does not alter the smell, taste, or properties of the contents it holds.
• High recyclability: One of the main advantages of PET plastic bottles is their recyclability. Once used, they can be placed in designated recycling bins to re-enter the production cycle.
• Easy to identify: These bottles are marked with the universal recycling symbol—a triangle of arrows with the number 1—clearly indicating that the material is PET and recyclable.
• Efficient recycling process: PET plastic bottles are processed through mechanical recycling, recovering raw material that can be used in the creation of new containers or other plastic products.
• Alternative recycling streams: Bottles that cannot be reused through standard processes can still be recycled through specialized systems, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

You might also be interested in: Mechanical recycling: What is it and how does it enhance the circularity of packaging?

Benefits of PET plastic bottles

The main benefits that make PET plastic bottles a standout choice include:

• Recyclability: The foremost advantage of PET bottles is that they are made from a highly recyclable material. Although multiple reuse is not recommended, their ability to be recycled and transformed into new containers is one of their greatest strengths.
• Reduced environmental impact: While PET bottles can take centuries to decompose in nature, their negative impact is significantly minimized through proper recycling. It is crucial for consumers to be aware and act responsibly to ensure these containers do not harm the environment.
• Lower resource consumption: Manufacturing PET plastic bottles requires less energy, water, and raw materials compared to other materials, reducing their carbon footprint during production.
• Lightweight and transport efficiency: Their light weight makes transporting PET bottles much more efficient, leading to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and the use of resources like fuel and tires.
• Job creation: An additional benefit is that PET bottle recycling generates employment across all stages of the process, from collection to final recycling.

From PET plastic bottles to new packaging solutions

While PET plastic bottles remain a viable and eco-friendly option for many products, ALCION PACKAGING SOLUTIONS has significantly advanced its business strategy within the industrial plastic packaging industry. The company now focuses on more complex and specialized solutions to address challenges identified in the industrial packaging sector. This shift involves moving away from markets such as cosmetics and food packaging to concentrate on the critical technical demands faced by chemical product packagers.

Related content: Circular Packaging: the commitment to circular solutions in packaging

Technologies such as extrusion blow molding, coextrusion blow molding, and plasma treatment open new opportunities to create packaging with improved barrier properties, enhanced durability, and reduced environmental impact within the chemical sector.

Extrusion blow molding

Extrusion blow molding enables the production of monolayer containers with enhanced barrier properties, providing better protection for products and preserving their qualities for longer periods.

Coextrusion blow molding

Coextrusion blow molding produces stronger containers with additional layers that offer improved protection against factors such as moisture, oxygen, and light—ideal for more sensitive products.

Plasma treatment

Plasma treatment enhances the emptying of containers and improves their barrier properties, resulting in more efficient and sustainable packaging, while also boosting recyclability.

APS and the future of industrial packaging: Beyond PET

While PET plastic bottles have marked a turning point in the packaging industry due to their lightness, durability, and recyclability, at APS we are taking a step further toward more advanced technical and functional solutions.

We now focus our expertise on the development and manufacturing of monolayer and barrier industrial containers using extrusion blow molding, coextrusion, and treatments such as plasma, which offer greater durability, chemical resistance, and content protection.

These solutions are designed for demanding sectors requiring high-performance packaging, including the chemical, agrochemical, ceramics, detergents, automotive, paint industries, and many more.

If you are looking for real evolution in your packaging line, Alcion Packaging Solutions can help you take that leap.

Contact us, and we will find a tailor-made solution for you!