PET is derived from oil: That must change!
The article (below) on “… innovative advanced circular recycling technology that uses polyester waste which cannot be recycled by current mechanical methods, and as a result, often ends up in landfills and waterways” triggered the sharing of some of our insight in the the whole topic of oil-derived polyesters.
In a recent study, DalinYebo noted that the competitors in the PET  alternatives market are not other technology and product developers of e.g. PEF  who use the furan chemistry platform, but the re-cycling of PET. Recycling of PET has gained a lot of traction over the last 5 years and is well supported and funded by major global alliances and local players. Also here in South Africa.
Chemically-modified or chemically treated PET becomes degradable (in landfills). It is not a solution, as in the end they’ll emit oil-derived greenhouse gases (methane and/or CO2). Therefore, PET recycling is important. In our opinion, however, it should only be viewed as an interim solution. All Polyesters must be made from sugars (biomass) and not from oil!
- Sugar-derived polyesters can also be recycled and re-used.
- Sugar-derived polyesters have superior physical properties.
- Sugar-derived polyesters are made from CO2 that is absorbed by plants and turned into bio-carbons (sugars) which then become the starting point of furan (furfural as well as 5-HMF) chemistry.
A brilliant carbon-capture mechanism!
We have previously written about furan-based alternative’s to PET.
Tag: PET | Search: Polyester | Explore: Furfural Chemistry: Carbon Capture / CO2 Sequestration
Technology . Markets . Knowhow
-  PET: Polyethylene terephthalate
-  PEF: Polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate, also named poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate), polyethylene furanoate and poly(ethylene furanoate) and generally abbreviated as PEF. PEF can be made from sugars that are converted to 5-HMF, which is further processed to 2,5-FDCA and then converted into PEF.