Plastic Facts & Statistics

General knowledge

Plastic resin codes

We talk a lot about PET and HDPE, but do you know the difference between them?  The American Chemistry Council explains all the plastic resin types and their codes in this handy table [PDF,178kb].

Statistical Data and Research

For recycling, wasting, sales, and consumption of plastic beverage containers, see the data archive.

Need more in-depth information about plastic container sales and recycling in any or all of the United States? Consider requesting a Beverage Market Data Analysis.

Life Cycle Assessments

Sustainability Metrics: Life Cycle Assessment and Green Design in Polymers

2010 peer-reviewed paper that uses life cycle assessments to compare the environmental impacts of 12 different polymers (including bioplastics) when "green design principles" are applied to their manufacture.
More info

Life Cycle Inventory of Recycled Plastic

2010 study on the environmental impacts of processing and using recycled PET and HDPE, including energy requirements, solid wastes, and atmospheric and waterborne emissions.
More info | Download report [pdf, 273kb]

Life Cycle Inventory of Soft Drinks in Glass, Aluminum, and PET

A 2009 study of glass, aluminum, and PET soft drink containers found PET bottles produced less solid waste, less greenhouse gas emission, and used less energy than the other two container types. The study covered production of the containers and end-of-life uses, but did not include data on post-fabrication transportation to the filling site, filling, distribution, storage, retail use and consumer use.
More info | Download report [pdf, 484kb]

Life Cycle Inventory of PET and PLA

A 2007 full-life-cycle inventory of PET and PLA water bottles found PET environmentally preferable to its corn-based counterpart.
More info | Download report [pdf, 202kb]

 

 

Plastic Recycling in the News

Find news articles, press releases, letters to the editor, and other printed media related to plastic recycling here.

Issues

Water, Water Everywhere

Sales of bottled water in the U.S. are going up, up and up.  In the three years between 2002 and 2005, sales doubled from from 15 billion units sold, to 29.8 billion. This is almost seven times the 3.8 billion units sold in 1997.  At the same time, traditional fizzy drinks are losing market share. What does this all mean? More PET bottles produced, more wasted, and a smaller percentage recycled. Download the report [PDF,542Kb]

The Truth About Bottled Water

CRI's page on bottled water, which was set up in honor of National Drinking Water Month in May 2005, contains several useful articles on plastic water bottle wastage and recycling, and links to sites explaining alternatives to drinking bottled water.

Setting The Record Straight: Plastic (PET) Soda Bottle Recycling

FAQs about plastic recycling.  Read Coke's and CRI's takes on the questions.