The global environmental protection trend has created significant policy opportunities for the PETG series materials industry. Multiple countries have successively introduced plastic restriction and ban policies to limit the use of non-degradable plastics. For instance, the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive mandates a 50% substitution rate for single-use plastic packaging by 2030. China's “dual carbon” goals also explicitly encourage the research, development, and application of bio-based and recyclable modified materials. Although PETG materials are not fully biodegradable, they are 100% recyclable with minimal performance degradation during recycling (maintaining 85% tensile strength retention after three recycling cycles). This aligns with circular economy principles, positioning PETG as a key policy-encouraged alternative material.

Technological innovation continues to drive cost reduction and efficiency gains in the PETG industry. At the raw material stage, optimizing the synthesis process of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) and employing novel catalysts to reduce reaction energy consumption has lowered CHDM production costs by 25%, effectively alleviating the high raw material cost issue for PETG (CHDM accounts for over 40% of PETG raw material costs). On the production side, the adoption of integrated continuous polymerization-extrusion production lines has streamlined the process from the traditional “polymerization-pelletization-reprocessing” sequence to “polymerization-direct molding.” This eliminates intermediate steps, reducing energy consumption and material loss, and lowering unit production costs by 15-20%. Simultaneously, mature waste recycling technology enables production offcuts to be regranulated via screw extrusion, achieving over 90% recovery rates and further minimizing raw material waste.

Diversifying market demand injects robust momentum into the PETG industry. In the healthcare sector, accelerating global aging and rising demand for medical devices have driven annual growth in medical-grade PETG demand above 25%. In electronics, the trend toward miniaturization and lightweighting of consumer products has expanded PETG's application in precision electronic component packaging. In construction and decoration, the adoption of green building standards has spurred rapid growth in demand for PETG sheets and profiles. Data indicates the global PETG market reached $8 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $16 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) surpassing 15%.

Synergistic development across the industrial chain has become pivotal to enhancing PETG competitiveness. Upstream raw material producers collaborate with research institutions to establish stable supply systems for feedstocks like CHDM and terephthalic acid, ensuring consistent quality and pricing. Midstream manufacturers focus on developing differentiated products, forming a comprehensive product portfolio ranging from general-purpose grades to medical-grade and flame-retardant grades to meet diverse sector demands. Downstream application companies collaborate with midstream producers on application testing—for instance, packaging firms jointly optimize shrink film properties with PETG manufacturers, while electronics companies participate in formulating anti-static PETG—creating a virtuous cycle of “demand-driven R&D-application.”

Currently, the PETG industry still faces challenges. For instance, core technology patents for high-end medical-grade PETG are predominantly held by European and American companies, while domestic enterprises need to enhance product purity and performance stability. The recycling system remains incomplete, with sorting and reprocessing standards for recycled PETG materials requiring refinement. To address these issues, the industry is accelerating technological breakthroughs and standard development. For instance, industry-academia-research collaborations are advancing purification techniques for medical-grade PETG, while industry associations are establishing recycling specifications. Looking ahead, with maturing technologies and sustained policy support, the PETG materials industry is poised to enter a phase of higher-quality development.