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PET or PETE (PolyEthylene Teraphthalate) is commonly used to package soft drinks and food, but is also used to package cosmetics and household cleaners. It is identified by #1 on or near the bottom of bottles and containers.

The FDA has studied and tested PET for over 20 years, and currently concludes that it is an inert plastic that does not leach harmful materials into its contents. At this time, there are no know risks associated with heating or freezing PET containers.

PET is one of the most commonly recycled plastics and is used to make recycled fleece, carpets, and playground equipment. However, because the resulting recycled product is actually of lesser quality than the original PET, a more accurate term for this process is downcycled.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is not used in the production of PET nor is it used as a chemical building block for any of the materials used in the manufacture of PET. BPA is used to make polycarbonate, which is a different form of plastic.

Naturepedic uses specially-formulated food-grade polyethylene to waterproof their mattresses and mattress pads. Polyethylene is ideal for this purpose because it is easy to clean and highly stain resistant, while providing an excellent barrier for dust mites and other allergens.

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