Plastic Scrap Rate in Lahore: Where to Sell PET Bottles and Get a Fair Weight
Which plastic scrap is worth most, what sets the PET bottle rate in Lahore, how to make sure the kanta is fair — and how to sell bulk loads.
Key takeaways
- PET strap depends on melt strength — so flake IV and its consistency matter more than in many other uses.
- Moisture is the silent strap-killer: wet flake loses IV in the extruder and makes weak, brittle strap.
- PVC and other contaminants cause breaks during stretching and weak spots in finished strap.
- Coloured flake works well for green and black strap — but the colour must be consistent lot to lot.
- Qualify a supplier with a sample and a trial run, then hold every lot to the same COA limits.
PET strapping has replaced steel strap in much of Pakistan’s packaging — it is lighter, does not rust and is cheaper to ship. Most of it is made from recycled PET flake, and Lahore’s industrial areas are home to many strap producers serving the city’s manufacturers, warehouses and exporters. For them, flake quality is not a detail: a strap that snaps under tension fails the customer at the worst moment.
We supply clear and coloured hot-washed rPET flakes from Okara to manufacturers across Lahore. Here is what strap makers should look for in their flake.
Why strapping is demanding
PET strap is extruded, then stretched (oriented) to give it strength, then embossed and wound. The stretching step is where weak material shows up: if the melt is not strong and uniform, the strap breaks on the line or comes out with weak spots that fail under load. That is why strap makers care about the properties that control melt strength — above all intrinsic viscosity (IV) — and about anything that interrupts the melt, like contamination and moisture.
The flake properties that matter
| Property | Why it matters for strap | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| IV (intrinsic viscosity) | Higher, stable IV gives melt strength for stretching and break strength in the strap | An IV range on the COA, and consistency lot to lot |
| Moisture | Wet flake hydrolyses in the extruder, dropping IV — weak, brittle strap | Low moisture, dry packing, and proper drying before extrusion |
| PVC | Degrades in the melt, causing black specks, gas and weak points | PVC controlled to a stated limit |
| PP/PE & labels | Do not mix with PET — weak spots and breaks during stretching | Caps, rings and labels removed |
| Colour consistency | Customers expect the same shade of green or black every time | Colour-sorted flake, consistent between lots |
| Fines & dust | Feed problems and uneven melt | Clean, even cut |
Our COA guide explains each of these lines and how they are tested.
Moisture: the most common strap problem
PET picks up moisture from the air, and at extrusion temperatures that water breaks the polymer chains, lowering IV. The result is strap that looks fine but snaps under tension. Two habits prevent most of it: buy flake that arrives dry and well packed, and dry it properly before extrusion — every time, even if the flake “feels dry”. Store bags off the ground and closed, especially in Lahore’s humid monsoon months.
Clear or coloured flake for strap?
Most PET strap is green or black, which makes coloured or mixed flake a good, economical fit — the colour is covered by masterbatch. Clear flake is used for natural or lighter-coloured strap and where higher, more consistent quality is needed. Either way, what matters is consistency: a lot that is noticeably different in colour or quality from the last one means re-adjusting the line. See PET flakes price in Pakistan for how clear and coloured flake are priced.
How to qualify a new flake supplier
- Ask for the COA and TDS for the grade you want.
- Take a sample and run your own checks — visual, float test for PP/PE, moisture, a heat screen for PVC (our mill gate checklist applies to strap too).
- Do a trial run on your line and test break strength and elongation of the strap.
- Agree acceptance limits in writing, and how off-spec lots are handled.
- Check supply — can the supplier deliver your monthly volume through winter, when bottles are scarcer?
More on judging suppliers in choosing an rPET flake supplier in Pakistan.
Supplying Lahore strap makers from Okara
Our hot-washed flake has caps, labels and glue removed and PVC controlled, with a COA and TDS on request — and we can send a sample for your trial run. Our Okara plant sits on the N-5 corridor towards Lahore, and we deliver to manufacturers across the city’s industrial areas, including Sundar Industrial Estate, Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate (Kot Lakhpat), Multan Road and Ferozepur Road. See the Lahore page for more.
Request a sample for a trial run
Tell us your grade (clear or coloured), monthly volume and spec limits. We quote today’s rate delivered to Lahore, with the COA behind it.
Request a Quote WhatsApp usFrequently asked questions
Can PET strapping be made from recycled PET flakes?
Yes. Most PET strap in Pakistan is made from recycled PET flake. The flake needs adequate and consistent IV, low moisture, controlled PVC and no PP/PE or labels, so the strap can be stretched without breaking.
Why does PET strap break during production?
The most common causes are moisture in the flake (which lowers IV in the extruder), low or inconsistent IV, and contamination such as PVC, PP/PE or labels that create weak points during stretching.
Which IV is needed for PET strapping?
Strap needs good melt strength, so producers look for an adequate and, above all, consistent IV. The exact range depends on your process and strap grade — agree it with your supplier and check it on the COA.
Can coloured rPET flake be used for strap?
Yes. Green and black strap is commonly made from coloured or mixed flake with masterbatch. What matters is that colour and quality stay consistent from lot to lot.
Do you deliver rPET flakes to strap makers in Lahore?
Yes. Shahbaz Traders delivers hot-washed clear and coloured rPET flakes from Okara to manufacturers across Lahore, with COA and TDS on request and samples available for trial runs.
