Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has maintained its dominant position in food packaging, especially single-use cold beverage cups for bubble tea, iced coffee, fruit juices and carbonated drinks across global catering chains in 2026.

Food-grade PET features glass-like high transparency with over 90% light transmittance, perfectly showcasing layered beverages and boosting brand visual appeal. It is lightweight, rigid and crack-resistant during delivery, with stable chemical inertia that avoids harmful substance leaching. Free of BPA and phthalates, PET cups fully comply with FDA, EU 10/2011 and SGS food contact standards for cold drinks below 50°C.

The material delivers reliable barrier performance to lock carbonation and beverage freshness. Meanwhile, PET carries mature global recycling systems, and recycled RPET variants are rapidly growing to meet brands’ low-carbon requirements. Compared with milky PP and fragile PLA, PET balances cost, appearance and recyclability, making it the first pick for takeaway and beverage retail packaging.

Manufacturers report surging export orders for PET cup sheets to Southeast Asia, with complete certification documents including FORM E provided to cut import tariffs for regional buyers. Industry analysts predict steady demand growth for PET food packaging as cold drink consumption keeps expanding worldwide.