PET vs PP vs rPET — Material Guide
Choosing the right resin for cups and boxes depends on your serving temperature, clarity needs and sustainability goals. This guide compares the three materials we run in-house.
- PET — crystal clarity and good barrier, ideal for cold drinks (0–60°C) and shelf-ready display. The go-to for iced coffee and milk tea cups.
- PP — heat-resistant (microwavable) and grease-proof, best for hot drinks, meal boxes and trays that need a tougher body.
- rPET — post-consumer recycled PET with a lower carbon footprint. Food-contact rPET requires verified recycled-content compliance (FDA no-objection / EU recycled plastic rules).
- Rule of thumb — cold & clear: PET; hot & tough: PP; green story: rPET or PLA. We can run all of them with printed or IML decoration.
Need a spec sheet or samples before you decide?