Although go green movements are on the rise worldwide, plastics are still a packaging necessity for food products. The reason is pretty simple—they are inexpensive, easy to handle and easily available.

1. 7 Types
of
Plastics
and
Which
One You
Should
Use
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2. Lets see some Facts
According to one study, an average American
family uses nearly 1,500 plastic grocery bags in a
year, meaning that 102 billion plastics bags are
used in a year.
Most plastics are thrown after a single use; and
0.6 percent of them are recyclable.
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3. Although go green movements are on the
rise worldwide, plastics are still a packaging
necessity for food products. The reason is
pretty simple—they are inexpensive, easy to
handle and easily available.
Here we have helped you by listing the
commonly used plastic categories along
code.
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4. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
(Code: 1)
Polyethylene terephthalate
(PETE or PET) is a lightweight
plastic known for its impact
resistant properties. It is
considered safe and easy to
recycle. PETE is used in food
packaging for beverages, oil,
water, salad dressing and
jam/jelly.
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5. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
(Code: 2)
Being a low-hazard plastic,
HDPE is used for milk, grocery
bags, cereal box liners, water
and juice packaging. It is also
used as a packaging for
cleaning supplies and
shampoo. Like most plastic, it
is likely to release estrogenic
chemicals. It can be recycled.
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6. Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC (Code: 3)
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is
used in making packaging for
food wrap, bottles, oil, and
OTC drugs. As it contains
chlorine as its key ingredient,
it is biologically and
chemically resistant. However,
it is not safe for cooking or
heating. This plastic is
generally not accepted by
recycling programs.
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7. Low-Density Polyethylene or LDPE
(Code: 4)
Low density polyethylene or
LDPE is great for making grocery
bags, food wraps, squeezable
bottles and bread bags. It is
thinner than some other resins and
provide strong resistant against
heat.
This plastic is generally considered
safe. However, it is not recyclable,
thereby posing an environmental
issue. It should be reused or
repurposed rather than throwing
them away after one use
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8. PP or Polypropylene (Code: 5)
Polypropylene or PP is used to
make food packaging like
yogurt cups, medicine
packaging and ketchup bottles.
It is microwave safe as it is
heat resistant. It can be made
translucent, opaque or a
various color during
manufacturing. Polypropylene
is now accepted by most
curbside recycling programs.
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9. Polystyrene or Styrofoam (Code: 6)
Polystyrene is used in food
packaging like egg cartons,
disposable cups, bowls, take out
eatery containers and plastic
cutlery. It is not safe as it leaches
potentially toxic chemicals when
exposed to heat. This plastic
type is difficult to recycle. Top
of that, it may take hundreds of
years to decompose when not
recycled. The optimal solution is
that it should be reused and
repurposed.
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10. Other or O (Code 7):
This category indicates that
packaging is made of a plastic
resin other than the six types
of resins mentioned above. For
example, the packaging can be
made with polycarbonate or
the bioplastic polyactide
(PLA). Or it can be made with
more than one plastic material.
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11. The key is here to choose the plastics with little
to no hazards. To conclude, plastics belonging
from the categories 2, 4, and 5 are safe. As a
retailer or business, use compatible plastic
category for your food product to ensure safety
and integrity of food packed within.
Customers, on the other hand, should try to
reuse the plastics that can’t be recycled.
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12. iSell Packaging
www. isellpackaging.com