According to the Wikipedia article [1] both methods are used: > 'basic' or 'physical' recycling. Bottle flake is melted into its new shape directly with basic

According to the Wikipedia article [1] both methods are used: > 'basic' or 'physical' recycling. Bottle flake is melted into its new shape directly with basic changes in its physical properties. > 'chemical' or 'advanced' recycle. Bottle flake (or possibly a less pure feedstock) is partially or totally depolymerized then enabling purification. The resulting oligomers or monomers are repolymerized to PET polymer, which is then processed in the same way as virgin polymer. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_bottle_recycling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_bottle_recycling