A UK-based company hopes to reduce waste in countries with low recycling rates. Wells Plastics, which specializes in oxi-biodegradable products, has adapted its Reverte technology for use in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

According to the company, Reverte uses pro-degradent technology to control PET life, and on disposal or discarding, the degradation can begin. Eventually, the plastic’s polymeric chains become shorter and shorter until it breaks down completely and can be digested by bacteria and fungi. Reverte-treated PET will biodegrade in a fraction of the hundreds of years it takes for regular PET.

PET bottle manufacturing and usage is growing at a strong rate. Only 23.5% of PET bottles were recycled in the United States in 2006, a drop of more than 16% over 10 years. While John James of Wells Plastics stresses that using this technology does not change the first priority to recycle as much and often as possible, the hope is that PET products that do not end up in the recycling stream will degrade naturally in landfills.

Wells Plastics
011-44-1785-817421 (UK)