A process for the transformation of a polyester selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) into a terephthalate of Formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl), aryl, and (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(aryl); provided that one of R 1 or R 2 is not hydrogen; wherein C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl is optionally substituted with oxo, halogen, methyl, ethyl, -CN, -CF 3 , -OH, -OMe, -NH 2 , or -NO 2 ; wherein C 1 -C 6 alkyl is optionally substituted with oxo, halogen, -CN, -CF 3 , -OH, -OMe, -NH 2 , or-NO 2 ; and wherein aryl is optionally substituted with halogen, amino, nitrile, nitro, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, -CN, -CF 3 , or -OMe, wherein cycloalkyl in the definitions above refers to a partially or fully saturated, monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring; the process comprising pre-treating the polyester with a solvent for swelling the polyester, and admixing the polyester with a mixture comprising: (a) an alcoholic solvent; and (b) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide wherein the process is performed at a temperature between 25 °C and 100 °C; wherein the ratio of the polyester to the alkoxide is between 20:1 and 125:1 (w:w); and wherein the pre-treating the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester is performed for between 5 mins and 60 mins prior to admixing the polyester with the mixture comprising (a) and (b). wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, C 1 -C 6 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 6 hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl, (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl), aryl, and (C 1 -C 6 alkyl)(aryl); provided that one of R 1 or R 2 is not hydrogen; wherein C 3 -C 8 cycloalkyl is optionally substituted with oxo, halogen, methyl, ethyl, -CN, -CF 3 , -OH, -OMe, -NH 2 , or -NO 2 ; wherein C 1 -C 6 alkyl is optionally substituted with oxo, halogen, -CN, -CF 3 , -OH, -OMe, -NH 2 , or-NO 2 ; and wherein aryl is optionally substituted with halogen, amino, nitrile, nitro, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, -CN, -CF 3 , or -OMe, wherein cycloalkyl in the definitions above refers to a partially or fully saturated, monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring; the process comprising pre-treating the polyester with a solvent for swelling the polyester, and admixing the polyester with a mixture comprising: (a) an alcoholic solvent; and (b) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide wherein the process is performed at a temperature between 25 °C and 100 °C; wherein cycloalkyl in the definitions above refers to a partially or fully saturated, monocyclic or polycyclic carbocyclic ring; the process comprising pre-treating the polyester with a solvent for swelling the polyester, and admixing the polyester with a mixture comprising: (a) an alcoholic solvent; and (b) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide wherein the process is performed at a temperature between 25 °C and 100 °C; (a) an alcoholic solvent; and (b) a sub-stoichiometric amount of an alkoxide wherein the process is performed at a temperature between 25 °C and 100 °C; wherein the ratio of the polyester to the alkoxide is between 20:1 and 125:1 (w:w); and wherein the pre-treating the polyester with the solvent for swelling the polyester is performed for between 5 mins and 60 mins prior to admixing the polyester with the mixture comprising (a) and (b). <EOS>