Type: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)

Properties: Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Soft drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam jars
Type: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Properties: Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to moisture, permeability to gas.

Common Packaging Applications: Milk, juice and water bottles; yogurt and margarine tubs; trash and retail bags.
Type: Polyvinyl Chloride (V)

Properties: Versatility, clarity, ease of blending, strength, toughness.

Common Packaging Applications: Juice bottles; cling films
Type: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Properties: Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Frozen food bags; squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard; cling films; flexible container lids.
Type: Polypropylene (PP)

Properties: Strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier to moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Reusable microwaveable ware; kitchenware; yogurt containers; margarine tubs; microwaveable disposable take-away containers; disposable cups and plates.
Type: Polystyrene (PS)

Properties: Versatility, clarity, easily formed

Common Packaging Applications: Egg cartons; disposable cups, plates, trays and cutlery; disposable take-away containers; yogurt and margarine containers
Type: Other

Properties: Dependent on polymers or combination or polymers.

Common Packaging Applications: Beverage bottles; baby milk bottles.

Post Consumer Scrap HDPE

Posted under HDPE, Glossary - Mar 28th, 08

Scrap HDPE is a booming market, and in many cases, demand far outstrips supply. Scrap HDPE is sought after and imported and exported around the world. Some North American manufacturers have even been known to import scrap HDPE from as far afield as Europe and Asia.
The demand for scrap HDPE and scrap HDPE byproducts, such […]

HDPE Pellets and Granules

Posted under HDPE, Glossary - Mar 17th, 08

HDPE:
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used for many packaging applications such as snack food packages and cereal box liners, in bottle form as milk and non-carbonated beverage bottles and in injection-molded tub form, for packaging margarine, whipped toppings and deli foods. HDPE has good chemical resistance, because of that it is also used for as […]

HDPE Scrap

Posted under HDPE, Glossary - Mar 17th, 08

HDPE:
High Density Poly Ethylene is a form of recyclable plastic commonly used in consumer product manufacturing. The definition of High Density is anything between 0.941 - 0.965 gram/cc Polyethylene. LDPE has higher temperature resistance, higher stiffness. HDPE provides a good water barrier but it does not hold oxygen or CO2 well.
HDPE Use:
In HDPE Film form […]

HDPE Regrind

Posted under HDPE, Glossary - Mar 16th, 08

HDPE:
It is an abbreviation for High Density Poly Ethylene.
Post Consumer Regrind (PCR):
PCR is post consumer plastic products that have been recycled, this means they are ground down to be re-used in manufacturing of new products made of the material in question. Level of grinding can be between 25-100%.
HDPE post consumer regrind is recycled High Density […]