Packaging for soft drinks: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle

Since the development in closure technology, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle production, can design and manufacture, syrup making methods, carbonation technology and filling machine manufacture have led to the worldwide beverage industry as we know it today.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are a very popular pack type for carbonated soft drinks. Peanut butter, salad dressing and other household and consumer precuts are also package in PET bottles.

PET bottles have also replace PVC bottles that are often use in the packaging of mineral water. The bottle is manufacture in a two stage process. PET granules are melted and injected at high pressure into perform moulds.

The pre-forms can then be warmed and stretched and blown with compressed air into a mould to give a finished single piece bottle of the desired size.

PET packaging has allowed drinks companies to move into in-house bottle production, and to operate more independently from packaging manufacturers.

PET bottles have good gas barrier properties and are lightweight. Once filled with a carbonated drink the bottles become very strong and rigid.

Most PET bottles used are one-way or non-returnable containers. An improvement in PET bottles has led to the designing of refillable bottles.
Packaging for soft drinks: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle