What is rPET?

David Platt • 4 July 2023

And how is it used in branded promotional merchandise?

rPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate. PET is the widely used plastic. It is commonly used in beverage bottles, food containers, and other everyday items. PET, also referred to as just polyester is widely used as a fabric. The waste issue is particularly acute in the fizzy drinks bottle because of the tendency to discard bottles rather than dispose responsibly. PET is favoured by manufacturers because of its durability, clarity, and lightness. It also has the ability, unlike polythene, to act as a barrier to gases including carbon dioxide, hence the use for fizzy drinks. However, the proliferation of PET products has led to significant environmental concerns due to its slow decomposition rate. When one talks of Ocean Bound plastics we are often referring to PET.

But – the properties which make PET a problem, its durability and resilience to decomposition also make it ideal for re-cycling. This includes post-consumer recycling and not just recycling within the manufacturing process. The properties of PET allow it to be re-heated and melted over and over again without destroying its physical properties.

The recycling process involves collecting, sorting, and cleaning the PET waste, followed by shredding it into small flakes or pellets. These flakes are then melted and transformed into new products. The full details of the process can be found in a previous blog at https://www.pavilionearth.co.uk/how-is-polyester-pet-recycled. The most valuable product produced is the fibre which can be used for clothing and for products like bags.

For the promotional world the most exciting rPET products are based on recycled polyester fibre. Two main reasons for this, polyester fibre when used in a t-shirt provides the moisture wicking fabric used in high quality sports products. The fibre is soft and yet hard wearing and it takes around 13 PET bottles to make a T shirt. Also, when made into a thicker weave polyester creates the high quality bags, rucksacks and suitcases. It is impossible to tell recycled PET form virgin fibre, it is strong tear resistant and it looks great.

A selection of ideas for promotional merchandise are shown here:

Supporting Sustainable Initiatives

There is another important aspect to the recycling of polyester. Namely, because the infrastructure for recycling is well known and commercially attractive, it has become part of a set of global initiatives. These involve third world communities collecting ocean bound plastics for recycling. These initiatives have an impact on the environment and plastics but also on local communities providing much needed income and hard currency.

Incorporating rPET into your business practices showcases a commitment to environmental and social responsibility, resonating with environmentally conscious customers and promoting a greener future.

Which products?

Pavilion Earth has a number of products made from rPET but our favourites are the T-shirt to be found here:

https://www.pavilionearth.co.uk/clothing/recycled-polyester-t-shirts

And the ruck sack to be found here:

https://www.pavilionearth.co.uk/bags/recycled-travel-bags

It is the combination of style and strength that makes it such a great material.

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Evaluating Carbon Footprint in Branded Merchandise

by David Platt • 13 April 2026

SUMMARY: Comparing eco promotional products is difficult because of the range of materials used Carbon footprint is a measure which allows comparison Need to look at CO2 equivalent because of the use of organic solvents in promotional merchandise There is a difference between Cradle to Gate and Cradle to Grave in the measurement, because we never know whether the end user will attempt to recycle products Pavilion is a specialist in providing branded promotional products, which are sustainable. The most common question we're asked, of course, is what's the most sustainable branded product? And how would you measure that? And that's a difficult question and often comes with hesitations. Why? This blog aims to try and explain eco credentials, particularly for promotional merchandise and how you might compare them. The first problem you have, is that you're comparing different materials. This is why it's difficult is because there's no true standard of sustainability. There is no international marking that says, this one's a 10, and this one's a 1. The nearest you have is carbon footprint. Carbon footprint generally means the amount of carbon dioxide measured in kilos, but you have to be a bit careful with that, particularly for promotional merchandise because carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas. You may be fully aware that methane, natural gas has a global warming effect 50 to 60 times more than CO2. So, you don't need to measure just CO2, you've really have to look at a CO2 equivalent. In other words, converting the methane. And why do I mention that? Promotional merchandise is often printed and unless you are using water based inks, there will be solvents, and therefore, CO2 equivalent is what you need to measure. The next problem that you've have is what are you measuring the carbon footprint of? Are we talking what's termed - Cradle to Grave or Cradle to Gate? The concept is explained in the diagram.

Cork for Eco Branded Merchandise

17 February 2026

Cork - what is it? where does it come from and is it a sustainable product? This blog answers these questions and explains why cork is such a great material