PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is, without a doubt, plastic. But it is not just any plastic; it is transparent, very light, extremely resistant and, most importantly, recyclable. It is the material used in the manufacture of water bottles.
The main environmental problem of this material is its disposal, since once it becomes waste, its presence in rivers and seas is notorious, facilitating flooding or clogging of garbage in streets or forests. When Parafina learned about its qualities, we realized 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 that belongs 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 containers were recycled in 2018, which is 9.6% more than in the previous year”. This material is easily recognizable because all containers that are made from it bear the acronym PET or PETE (corresponding to polyethylene terephthalate) at the bottom inside a triangle formed by arrows. However, if PET is recycled it has several advantages. Some of them are:
– It decreases the need to use virgin petrochemical feedstock, which helps to conserve it.
– Transforming recycled PET into a newly virgin material involves much less energy expenditure.
– Combining the conservation of the raw material with a much lower energy cost, we will obtain less CO2 emissions, helping to preserve the ozone layer.
Taking into account all of the above, PET can be the best ally of the environment, since it is a material that can 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. In this way, and to materialize this idea, Parafina chose this type of material, with which we have managed to create a completely ecological product.
