PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is, without a doubt, plastic. But not just any plastic; it is transparent, very light, extremely resistant and, most importantly, it is recyclable. It is the material par excellence used to manufacture water bottles.
The main environmental problem with this material is its disposal, since once it becomes waste, it is notoriously present in rivers and seas, facilitating floods or clogging of rubbish in streets or forests. When we at Parafina discovered its qualities, we realised that they were perfect for creating sunglasses that could be used in any season of the year and in any situation.
According to data provided by Cicloplast, an organization belonging to the plastics sector whose function is to promote the recycling of this material, “In Spain, a total of 571,900 tons of household plastic packaging were recycled in 2018, which is 9.6% more than the previous year.” This material is easily recognizable because all the containers made from it have the initials PET or PETE (corresponding to polyethylene terephthalate, in English) at the bottom within a triangle formed by arrows. However, if PET is recycled it has several advantages. Some of them are:
– Reduces the need to use virgin petrochemical raw materials, which helps to conserve them.
– Transforming recycled PET into a new virgin material requires much less energy.
– By combining the conservation of raw materials with much lower energy expenditure, we will obtain fewer CO2 emissions, helping to preserve the ozone layer.
Taking all of the above into account, PET can be the best ally for the environment, since it is a material that allows it to have a second useful life.
In conclusion, we must be aware that the problem is real and help alleviate the climate crisis we are currently experiencing. Thus, and to materialize this idea, Parafina chose this type of material, with which we have managed to create a completely ecological product.
