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.

HDPE Plastics

Filed under HDPE, Plastics

…  margarine tubs, it may surprise some readers to learn that HDPE plastic actually begins life as thick black crude oil pumped out of the …  molecular weights range from 100,000 to 500,000, which is where the great variance in HDPE grades arises. Common grades of HDPE plastics …

Post Consumer Scrap HDPE

Filed under Glossary, HDPE

…  HDPE is a booming market, and in many cases, demand far outstrips supply. Scrap HDPE …  environments, but there are still swathes of the country where there are few recycling facilities, and no kerbside collection services. …