Plastic Products

1) Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

This is one of the most commonly used plastics. It’s lightweight, strong, typically transparent, and is often used in food packaging and fabrics (polyester).

Examples: Beverage bottles, Food bottles/jars (salad dressing, peanut butter, honey, etc.), and polyester clothing or rope.

2) High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Collectively Polyethylene is the most common plastic in the world, but it’s classified into three types: High-Density, Low-Density, and Linear Low-Density. High-Density Polyethylene is strong and resistant to moisture and chemicals, which makes it ideal for cartons, containers, pipes, and other building materials.

Examples: Milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box liners, toys, buckets, park benches, and rigid pipes.

3) Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl)

This hard and rigid plastic is resistant to chemicals and weathering, making it desired for building and construction applications; while the fact that it doesn’t conduct electricity makes it common for high-tech applications, such as wires and cable. It’s also widely used in medical applications because it’s impermeable to germs, is easily disinfected, and provides single-use applications that reduce infections in healthcare. On the flip side, we must note that PVC is the most dangerous plastic to human health, known to leach dangerous toxins throughout its entire lifecycle (eg: lead, dioxins, vinyl chloride).

Examples: Plumbing pipes, credit cards, human and pet toys, rain gutters, teething rings, IV fluid bags and medical tubing, and oxygen masks.

4) Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

A softer, clearer, and more flexible version of HDPE. It’s often used as a liner inside beverage cartons, and in corrosion-resistant work surfaces and other products.

Examples: Plastic/cling wrap, sandwich, and bread bags, bubble wrap, garbage bags, grocery bags, and beverage cups.

5) Polypropylene (PP)

Is one of the most durable types of plastic. It is more heat resistant than some others, which makes it ideal for such things as food packaging and food storage that are made to hold hot items or be heated. It’s flexible enough to allow for mild bending, but it retains its shape and strength for a long time.

Examples: Straws, bottle caps, prescription bottles, hot food containers, packaging tape, disposable diapers, and DVD/CD boxes.

6) Polystyrene (PS or Styrofoam)

Better known as Styrofoam, this rigid plastic is low-cost and insulates very well, which has made it a staple in the food, packaging, and construction industries. Like PVC, polystyrene is considered to be a dangerous plastic. It can easily leach harmful toxins such as styrene (a neurotoxin), which can easily then be absorbed by food and thus ingested by humans.

Examples: Cups, takeout food containers, shipping and product packaging, egg cartons, cutlery, and building insulation.