Discover the type of plastics commonly used in our daily lives

1. Types of Plastics

2. Types of plastics
● Plastics are common in our lives but it is not as simple as we thought.
Each plastic item might be different with others.
● Some of them are reusable, while others produce hazardous material after
several uses.
● Some can be recycled easily, others need more sophisticated and intricate
handlings in its recycling process.

3. Type 1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE or Polyester)
● PET (also abbreviated PETE) is short for polyethylene terephthalate, the
chemical name for polyester.
● PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for
packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft drinks,
juices and water.
● PET monofilament is mainly used for
making mesh fabrics for screen-printing,
filter for oil and sand filtration,
bracing wires for agricultural
applications (greenhouses etc.),
woven/knitting belt, filter cloth, and
other such industrial applications.

4. Type-2 : High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
● HDPE is versatile and very popular as;
● It’s lightweight yet super-strong. That’s why an HDPE milk jug that weighs 2
ounces can carry a gallon of milk. And why many carmakers use HDPE fuel tanks—
lighter weight car parts can help increase fuel efficiency.
● It’s impact resistant. Drop the toy truck down the stairs and it bounces.
● It’s long lasting and weather resistant, so that plastic lumber deck in the
backyard can entertain generations of families.
● It resists mold, mildew, rotting, and insects, so
it’s great for underground pipes used to deliver
water.
● And it’s easily molded into nearly any shape,
providing one of the primary benefits of most
plastics: malleability.

5. Type-3 : Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
● PVC is used massively in the production of
toys, blister wrap, cling wrap, detergent
bottles, loose-leaf binders, blood bags
and medical tubing
● PVC is labelled as the most hazardous
plastic
● 3rd world most produced synthetic polymer
or plastic
● Due to its versatile properties, such as
lightweight, durable, low cost and easy
processability, PVC is now replacing
traditional building materials like wood,
metal, concrete, rubber, ceramics, etc. in
several applications.

6. Type-4 : Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
● Polyethylenes are the most used family of plastics in the world. This type
of plastic has the simplest plastic polymer chemical structure, making it
very easy and very cheap to process.
● LDPE is resistant to impact (doesn’t break
easily), moisture (water proof), and chemicals
(can stand up to many hazardous materials).
● LDPE is mostly used for bags (grocery, dry
cleaning, bread, frozen food bags, newspapers,
garbage), plastic wraps; coatings for paper
milk cartons and hot & cold beverage cups;
some squeezable bottles (honey, mustard), food
storage containers, container lids.

7. Type-5 : Polypropylene (PP)
● PP is widely used in food
container due to its heat
resistance properties
● PP is easily be found in
infant bottles and considered
safe and less harmful
● Unfortunately, PP is difficult
to be recycled.

8. Type-6 : Polystyrene (PS)
● PS or Polystyrene is the
common styrofoam used as
containers ranging from food
to machinery.
● Unlike other type of
plastics, PS has very low
recycling rate.
● It is also produced poisonous
compound when gets heated.
● In Malaysia, some of the
states already banned the use
of PS for food containers.

9. Type-7 : Other
● Plastics labelled Type-7 are the
other than those identified
within Type-1 to Type-6.
● A mixture of the types or called
bioplastic is also considered as
Type-7
● Polycarbonate or PC is the
common type of plastic rated as
Type-7
● PC was massively used in
producing infant bottles but
later was banned due to its
toxicity.

10. In the nutshell…
● Though it varies between types, every single category of plastic could
leach hazardous materials if put in an extreme situation such as
extreme heat.
● 3 types of plastic that are considered as safer options among the
others are Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene
(2-HDPE), and Polypropylene (5-PP).
● Although the experts are currently working on inventing the best
method and strategy to recycle all of those types of plastic, the 2
types of plastic that are mostly picked up by the recycling programs
are Polyethylene Terephthalate (1-PET) and High-Density Polyethylene
(2-HDPE).

11. Plastic Resin Codes

12. References
● Bahraini, A. (2021, October 26). 7 types of plastic that you need to know. Waste4Change. Retrieved February 12,
2022, from https://waste4change.com/blog/7-types-plastic-need-know/
● Comprehensive guide on polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic: Uses, Properties, Benefits &
Toxicity. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2022, from https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyvinyl-
chloride-pvc-plastic