Glossary

A (2) | B (4) | C (4) | D (2) | E (2) | F (2) | G (1) | I (1) | L (4) | M (7) | O (2) | P (9) | R (4) | S (3) | T (3)

Term	Definition
Pelletizing	Process for producing uniform sizes of virgin or recycled plastic resins. The molten polymer is forced through an extruder, producing long strands of resin. The strands are plunged in a water bath to cool and solidify and are then chopped to make the pellets.
Pellets	Tiny cylinders of virgin or recycled resin that are ready for melting.
PEN	Poly Ethylene Naphthalate. Given its excellent barrier properties, its high washing temperature (85°C) and its pasteurability, PEN is mainly used for making beer bottles. However, its high production prices make it only suitable for refillable containers. PEN offers an insufficient barrier to oxygen in warm climates
PET	Polyethylene Terephthalate. PET is mainly used to manufacture containers.
Polymer	A high molecular weight organic compound, natural or synthetic, whose structure can be represented by a repeated small unit, the monomer (e.g., polyethylene, rubber, cellulose). Synthetic polymers are formed by addition or condensation polymerization of monomers. If two or more different monomers are involved, a copolymer is obtained. Some polymers are elastomers, some plastics.
Post-consumer bottle/PET	PET bottles consumed and disposed of by the end-user
Preforms	Test tube-like objects used for bottles manufacturing in the injection blow moulding process. Preforms are much shorter but much thicker than what bottles will be.
PVC	Polyvinyl Chloride. Before the introduction of PET in the 1970s, liquid containers were mainly manufactured in PVC. Nowadays PVC is still used for labels
Pyrolysis	Thermal decomposition of organic material through the application of heat in the absence of oxygen.