Plastics and resins are used in the vast majority of industries, they are highly necessary materials for the manufacture, maintenance, and transportation of articles. Depending on the intended use, the plastics and resins that will be used will be, and each one has particular characteristics.
Plastics and resins for packaging
PET and HDPE are the materials preferred by manufacturers of plastic containers due to their great versatility, we could say that they are mostly made of this material, however, PP is beginning to rebound.
PET
Mainly used in food-grade bottles for beverages or soft drinks, it is a highly elastic resin but resistant to heat and impact, which makes it ideal for storage and transport.
HDPE
It is used in the manufacture of containers for chemicals, agrochemicals, solvents, or that are dangerous or flammable. Its resistance makes it perfect for this type of product, it is safe against impact, corrosion, and high temperatures.
PP
Its name is polypropylene, it was used to make plastic caps, however, it has qualities very similar to PET, so its use to make containers is increasing.
What these types of plastics and resins have in common is that they are 100% recyclable, with proper treatment it is possible to decontaminate them and re-produce bottles, containers, clothing, shoes, or use them in other applications such as toys, cars, and more.
Although there is a trend that promotes the elimination of single-use plastics such as bottles and containers, mainly aimed at the food sector, the truth is that this material is essential for the packaging industry, even cardboard boxes require a plastic coating to make them waterproof.
The strategy that we must follow as consumers and manufacturers are to learn to recognize which plastic waste may have an extra life cycle and separate it to facilitate the task of recycling.