# PET: properties and identification clues

Canonical: https://materiumapp.com/materials/pet/

By Materium. Published 2026-10-19. English.

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It appears in drinks bottles, food packaging and polyester fibres. The polymer name describes a material family; the way it is processed determines the form and properties of the finished item.

- Full name: Polyethylene terephthalate
- Packaging resin code: 1 — PET or PETE
- Common examples: Drinks bottles and some food packaging

## What to look for

For a bottle, photograph the base markings, body and cap separately. Clear packaging provides useful visual context, but transparency alone does not distinguish PET from every other clear plastic.

## Make a useful comparison

Compare PET with HDPE by recording the product type and moulded resin marking. A bottle and its closure can use different polymers, so examine each part as its own material. PET fabric is also a useful reminder that a shared polymer does not mean a shared disposal route.

## Explore it with Materium

Explore a clean drinks bottle with Materium, then look for PET, PETE or a resin code on the packaging. Save the marking with your reference notes to connect visual observations with the manufacturer’s material declaration.

[How Materium works](https://materiumapp.com/how-materium-works/). Reference sources are separate from the app’s generated analysis.

## Care, reuse and recycling context

Use the on-pack instructions and local collection guidance for the specific item. A resin code identifies the polymer; it does not by itself establish that a tray, bottle or textile is accepted in the same collection.

## Related materials

- [HDPE](https://materiumapp.com/materials/hdpe/)
- [Polypropylene](https://materiumapp.com/materials/polypropylene/)
- [Polyester](https://materiumapp.com/materials/polyester/)

## Sources

Sources checked 2026-10-19.

- [British Plastics Federation — thermoplastic polyesters (industry reference)](https://www.bpf.co.uk/plastipedia/polymers/Polyesters.aspx)
- [Recycle Now — packaging symbols and local collection (UK)](https://www.recyclenow.com/how-to-recycle/recycling-symbols)

Educational content prepared with AI assistance. [Editorial policy](https://materiumapp.com/editorial/).

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