📘 Q.7 IAS Prelims 2022 — Environment & Ecology (Polyethylene Terephthalate – PET)🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📌 The Question:
With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements:
- Its fibres can be blended with wool and cotton fibres to reinforce their properties.
- Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.
- Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.
- Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
✅ Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 3
🧠 Classroom Explanation:
• Statement 1 – Correct
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a polyester polymer.
Its fibres are widely blended with cotton, wool, and rayon to improve:
– Strength
– Crease resistance
– Durability
This is why PET is common in permanent-press fabrics.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect
PET containers cannot store all alcoholic beverages.
In India, country liquor and certain alcoholic drinks are prohibited in PET bottles due to chemical leaching and health concerns.
• Statement 3 – Correct
PET is among the most recyclable plastics.
PET bottles can be recycled into:
– New PET bottles
– Clothing fibres
– Carpets
– Automotive parts
– Packaging materials
• Statement 4 – Incorrect
Incineration of PET does emit greenhouse gases.
Globally, plastic production and incineration release hundreds of millions of tonnes of GHGs annually.
Hence, PET cannot be safely disposed of without climate impact.
Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
🔍 Curiosity Raiser:
Why is PET preferred for bottles despite being environmentally harmful, while glass struggles to replace it at scale?
📚 Enrich Notes (Prelims Gold):
• PET = polyester family polymer
• One of the few plastics recyclable into same product again
• Incineration ≠ clean disposal
• Alcohol + plastic = regulatory & health red flag
• Frequently tested under Environment + Polymers + Waste
🪶 IAS Monk Whisper:
The most convenient material often hides the longest environmental shadow.