In a move to make its packaging more environment friendly, US-based Inline Plastics Corporation is converting the manufacture of containers from oriented polystyrene (OPS) to polyethylene terephtalate (PET).

Some OPS containers have already been replaced by PET, and it is expected that the entire Inline product line will be converted to PET by early 2009.

Inline Plastics is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, crystal clear PET clamshell and two-piece packaging designed to merchandise baked goods, deli items, fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, salads, and a variety of grab-and-go foods.

According to the company, customers will realise benefits from the change in several areas. Food retailers and processors will benefit from providing their customers with a PET container, which is the most widely recycled. Also, PET containers possess superior barrier properties against water vapor and gases, and are more resistant to oxidizers and greases than OPS containers. These properties result in a longer shelf life for many foods in PET containers. The new containers are also better suited for freezing than OPS containers, which increases the potential applications to include frozen food products.

Additionally, due to the unprecedented increase in polystyrene (PS) resin prices this year, PET resin is now very price competitive with PS, which will enable existing and new customers to realise the benefits of PET containers at comparable costs to OPS containers.