Classification of plastics by types.

Plastics are all around us. They can be found everywhere, including our homes, workplaces, cars, and clothing. The majority of the things you see and use every day are made of plastic. Many items made of plastic such as water bottles, combs, and beverage containers. There are various types of plastics, each with their own characteristics and uses. But in terms of their impact on the environment, not all plastics are created equal. Some plastics are easier to recycle than others, while others are more likely to end up in the ocean. Understanding the variation between plastic types, and being familiar with their SPI codes, can help you to make better-informed choices when it comes to recycling.

Plastic is very popular because it is cheap and durable. But all this durability has its drawbacks. It takes decades for plastics to break down in the environment. That means that every piece of plastic ever created is still in use today in some form. The majority of plastics are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource.

On the product's package, you can select plastic that is less harmful or non-toxic. On the bottom, side, or top of container there is a number inside of a recycling symbol that ranges from 1 to 7. The numbers represent the seven main different plastic types on the market. They can be found on the 299 million tons of plastic produced each year for water bottles, sports equipment, medical equipment, and pretty much any other plastic you can think of. The type of plastic used in the container is identified by that number, which is a resin identification code. Some plastics are easier to recycle than others; some are less hazardous and more environmentally friendly than others.

What are the plastic identification codes and what types of packaging they used in?

Below are 7 of the most popular and commonly used plastics: 

1)   Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)

2)   High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

3)   Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

4)   Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

5)   Polypropylene (PP)

6)   Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS)

7)   Miscellaneous plastics (O/Other) (includes: polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass, and nylon)

1)  Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, or sometimes PETE) - One of the most popular plastics is PET. It is indicated by the number 1 on the plastic containers. They are strong, lightweight, and usually transparent. PET is frequently used in the food packaging, including soda bottles, plastic water bottles, bottles for cooking oil, and several other food and beverage containers. Additionally, synthetic fibers like polyester are made using it. Additionally, PET is simple to recycle and can be used to create new items like carpet, clothing, and food containers. Sometimes you will see "rPET" on a product. This means that the stuff used to make the product is from recycled plastic bottles. Only 25% of these products are recycled.

2) High-density polyethylene (HDPE) - Is the most widely used plastic in the world. It is represented by the number 2. HDPE comes in three types: high-density, low-density and linear low-density. The strongest type is HDPE and it is commonly used for food packaging, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and some toys.

HDPE is not transparent. Compared to other plastics, it has a lower chance of leaching chemicals into food or beverages. Chemical Safety Facts classify this plastic as being low health risk. Although HDPE can be recycled, not all recycling facilities will take it. HDPE is a plastic that is often recycled because it doesn't break when it's exposed to extreme heat or cold. Only 12% of HDPE things are recycled each year.

Commonly used to make things like milk jugs, juice boxes, grocery bags, trash bags, motor oil containers, shampoo and soap bottles, detergent containers, bleach containers, and toys.

3) Polyvinyl chloride (PVC or V) - Is a highly durable and weather-resistant, so it's commonly used in building and construction. This kind of plastic containers are labeled with a number 3. Food wrap, cooking oil bottles, ordinary plumbing pipes, shower curtains, window frames, credit cards, inflatable mattresses, and some food packagings contain PVC.

It is both strong and lightweight, making it suitable for building purposes. This material is important for high-tech applications like wires and cables because it can't conduct electricity and is resistant to chemicals. PVC is frequently used in medical applications today due to its resistance to germs and makes it easy to clean, and offers single-use applications that help to prevent infections in healthcare.

PVC is one of the least recyclable materials. Each year, less than 1% of PVC plastic is recycled. 

4) Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) - Is a softer, clearer, more flexible form of HDPE with its own set of advantages. It is commonly used as a liner in juice and milk cartons, as well as in plastic bags, food wraps, bread bags, some squeezable bottles, and plastic wrap. The number 4 represents this plastic type.

Recycling it allows you to create new items such as rubbish bags, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes. Unfortunately, it is difficult to recycle this type of plastic. LDPE packaging and containers account for approximately 56% of all plastic waste. Many recycling systems, thankfully, are adapting to handle these products. This means that less LDPE will end up in landfills and harm the environment.

5)  Polypropylene (PP) - Is the best plastic to use in food storage and packaging that can hold hot objects or be heated on its own. Because it is more heat resistant than some other plastics. On plastic containers, it is identified by a number 5. It's another chemically inert and durable. Polypropylene is a strong plastic that is commonly used in packaging. It can be recycled to make new items such as rope, carpets, and cloth.

Yogurt cups, cream cheese jars, maple syrup or prescription bottles, ketchup bottles, kitchenware, and "microwave-safe" plastic containers  are common products made of polypropylene. Also, it can be found in reusable containers and some car parts. Containers made of polypropylene do not leak dangerous chemicals into food or beverages and are not linked to any known health problems. Because it resists heat and won't warp in the microwave, it is considered as being microwave-safe. But this does not mean that eating food that has been microwaved in it is healthy for you. It's better to use glass containers instead. Polypropylene is regarded as a safe plastic as long as you don't microwave it.

Despite being one of the most widely used plastic packaging materials globally, only about 1% of polypropylene gets recycled. This means that the majority of these plastics ends up in landfills. They take 20 to 30 years to slowly to break down.

6)  Polystyrene (PS) - A versatile plastic called polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is used to create a wide range of consumer products. It is frequently used in products that need clarity because it is a hard, solid plastic, like laboratory equipment and food packaging. In addition to packaging, food containers, egg cartons, disposable cups, and bowls are also made of polystyrene.

Although all of these materials can be recycled, recycling them frequently can result in the loss of some important characteristics. It's also one of the few materials that can be chemically processed or recycled in order to restore it to its original form. Decomposing takes hundreds of years if it is not recycled.

7) Miscellaneous Plastics (O/Other) - Any plastics that don't fit into one of the categories above are included in the "OTHER" category. For instance, nylon (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polylactide (PL), acrylic (AB), acrylonitrile butadiene (AB), styrene (SR), and fiberglass (PA), containing highly toxic BPA. This covers items like toothbrushes, buttons, and plastic grocery bags. It is identified by the number 7. Due to its association with bisphenol A (BPA), polycarbonate (PC), the most popular plastic in this category, has not seen as much use in recent years.

It's best to stay away from BPA products because many of them fall into this category. The BPA found in PC has been linked to a number of health issues. When burned, they may release dangerous chemicals. Unless exposed to high temperatures, these plastics are difficult to break down once formed, which means they are nearly impossible to recycle.

Although some plastics can be dangerous, this does not mean you should throw away all of your water bottles and meal preparation containers. You can handle your plastic safely by following the following steps:

* Prevent heating food that is in plastic containers.

* Use a mild detergent to wash plastic.

* When possible, choose glass containers.

To sum up, safe plastics are those which fall under categories 2, 4, and 5. Even if they are labeled "microwave-safe," be careful not to microwave them. Plastics which fall under the category 7 are plastics should be used with extreme caution, especially in food and beverage packaging.