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CPS University | Plasticology 101
CPSU: Bottleology, Terminology and Navigability
There are 7 major plastic types: HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, PET, PS and Other. Please see our glossary for additional definitions. Below we provide a basic comparison of each plastic type as well as definitions and common uses. Disclaimer: This information is generalized. Each product packaged in plastic will have a slightly different reaction to the plastic. You are responsible for testing your product with your packaging. We offer samples for you to test your product with and therefore will not be accountable for any product-to-plastic incompatibilities. |
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Common uses: soft drink bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars, products containing essential oils, some fruit juices, alcohol beverage bottles, space blankets |
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High-density polyethelene (HDPE) Common uses: milk jugs, distilled water, large vinegar bottles, grocery bags, liquid laundry and dish detergent, fabric softener, motor oil, antifreeze, bleach and lotion |
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Common uses: chemical spray bottles, pipes, electrical wire insulation, clothing, bags, upholstery, tubing, flooring, waterbeds, pool toys, bottles |
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Low-density polyethelene (LDPE) Common uses: dry-cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners, food storage containers, bread bags, squeezable containers, six pack soda can rings, food storage |
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Polypropylene (PP) Common uses: bottle caps, drinking straws, hinged containers, battery cases, dairy tubs (e.g. sour cream, cottage cheese), cereal box liners |
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Polystyrene (PS) Common uses: bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt cups, clear carryout containers, vitamin bottles, fast food, spoons, knives and forks, hot cups, meat and produce trays, egg cartons, clamshell carryout food containers |
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Other This is the catch all category of all other plastics. Many biodegradable, photo-sensitive, and plant-based plastics fit in this category. Basically any plastic that is not HDPE, LDPE, PET, PVC, PS or PP are put into this category. Additionally, any plastic resin type that has been developed since the original 6 resin types were established in 1988, are marked with the 7 or Other resin identification code. As such, listing common uses for these kinds of plastics is nearly impossible since their applications and characteristics are so diverse. |
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Post-Consumer Resin (PCR): Now Available! If you have been following the CPS Blog, and I know that you have, you may have noticed a theme in our recent posts involving plastics and different terms involving the degradability of these plastics. Another way that used plastic containers can b... |
Bioplastics: What you need to know A common misconception is that landfill waste will biodegrade. Nothing really biodegrades in a landfill, even food, because waste gets locked away from moisture, sunlight, and oxygen ... all important elements of bio-degradation. Not only does a mater... |
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Compostable Plastics: 3 Things You Need To Know Plastics continually evolve. Science progresses, the market demand changes, health advocates push for improvements and new plastics are born. Compostable plastics are a new wave of plastics ... and with that wave comes an accompanying ripple of confu... |
Newest Video: What is PP? If you've been following our videos, you've learned that not all plastics are the same, in fact, there are hundreds of different kinds of plastic. Thanks to the Society of Plastics Industry ( SPI ), they have kindly categorized all plastics into seven... |
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"What is PET?" Blooper Reel So I overestimated the "high impact and shatter resistance" capability of a PET jar of peanut butter. When I was writing the video script I thought for sure that a 15 foot drop onto a concrete warehouse floor would be a piece of cake for a PET jar of pean... |
What is PET? Not all plastics are the same, in fact, there are hundreds of different kinds of plastic. There are seven different categories of plastic: PET , HDPE , PVC , LDPE , PP , PS and the catch-all Other. Each plastic type has what we call a resin identif... |
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What plastic type is best for my product? We get this question all the time: what should I put my product in? A client has a product with a special list of ingredients that may or may not require a specific plastic type , and they just need to know from us, the plastic experts, the definitive... |
Fluorination: Your bottle can take the pressure Paneling. If you don't gasp when you hear this word, you will when you know what it means. According to Terminology 101 at CPS University , paneling is the: distortion of a plastic container that occurs during aging or storage, caused by the developm... |
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The FDA on BPA (Bisphenal A) Bisphenol-A (BPA) has been involved in countless studies regarding human health. BPA is a chemical used to make polycarbonate plastics. Polycarbonate plastics are lightweight, have a high-performance rating and possess attributes of clarity, heat and e... |
What is sustainable packaging and how do I do it? It's official. Sustainable packaging has matured from fad to trend, according to experts. What is sustainable packaging and how can small, medium and large businesses adapt? Fortunate for us, there is a coalition of sustainable packaging experts who c... |
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CPS University: Packaging Expertise at your Fingertips Packaging is a big industry. Nearly everything you buy is packaged in something. Choosing the right kind of packaging for your product can be very difficult. Will my product interact poorly with this container? Is this plastic the right kind of plast... |
What are the 7 main plastic (resin) types? There are really 7 major plastic types: HDPE , LDPE , PP, PVC, PET, PS and other. Please see Plasticology 101 for how these plastics are used, what recycling streams they can enter, properties like clarity and temperature thresholds and other gre... |
