Recycled bottles used to make face shields

The types of products produced from recycled PET bottles are diversifying, with at least one inspired by measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Manufacturers are obliged to recycle PET bottles under a law for recycling containers and packages. Until recently, collected plastic bottles were most often reprocessed into food trays or egg packs.

But with growing consumer awareness of environmental issues, recycled PET bottles are being used in novel ways.

This summer, Coca- Cola Japan Co. created about 10,000 face shields from recycled PET bottles as personal protection equipment.

e company provided the shields to medical institutions nationwide for free.

“We wanted to show it’s possible to make different products out of disposable plastic bottles,” a company o cial said.

Anya Hindmarch, a British bag brand, launched a product — named I AM A Plastic Bag — made from plastic bottles in June. e bag has a cotton-like texture. It is woven from bers created in the recycling process. The large size contains the equivalent of 32 PET bottles of the 500 milliliter size, and sells for ¥ 89,000. Anya Hindmarch also makes pouches and card cases.

“We adopted the idea of recycling during the manufacturing process of products.

Many customers buy products because they can relate to the background of the product,” a company official said.

“Consumers should support companies working to protect the environment by actively purchasing bottles without plastic labels or products made from recycled PET bottles,” said a senior researcher at the Nippon Association of Consumer Specialists, which studies environmental issues and consumer behavior.

Courtesy of Coca-Cola Japan Co. A face shield made from PET bottles