Types Of Plastics And Classification

I ask you one simple question..

When you buy a plastic container or more commonly known as "TUPPERWARE" among Malaysian people (eventho tupperware is just a brand name of a home product line), did you really care to have a look on the code number??

Talking about tupperware, i just get to know that this company (Tupperware Brands Corporation) has been founded and first introduced to public in 1946.. Hurmmm.. No wonder our old citizen including my parents even youngsters they will simply call 'tupperware' for all kind of plastic container although it's from Applelady... Same goes to toothpaste, i have experienced this issue with my mom..

The conversation as below...

Mom: Rin, if you go out later dont forget to buy colgate, the one we have here is almost finish..

Me: Ok mom..!

(2 hours later.....)

I'm home with hand full, put all the groceries and toiletries on the kitchen table.. Mom come over to check things out.. And suddently....

Mom: Rinnnnnnn... Why did you buy this??

Me: (I saw her holding the toothpaste) Just now you asked me to buy colgate.. That's colgate la..

Mom: Ya, i know.. But i dont want this one.. I want Safi, the one with kayu sugi (chewing stick)..

Me: ?????

I was stunned and speechless.. Hahaha...

Ok, back to the main subject.. Actually this code is quite important to us because we need to know whether the plastic material is suitable and safe for our usage..

There are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties.. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and thus recycling easier, the American Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. Manufacturers will place an SPI code or number on each plastic product, usually moulded into the bottom.

Types and their most common uses are:

PET 

- Polyethylene terephthalate - 

Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays, peanut butter jars.

HDPE 

- High-density polyethylene - 

Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids, motor oil.

PVC 

- Polyvinyl chloride - 

Food trays, fast food service items and shampoo, cooking oil bottles.

LDPE 

- Low density polyethylene - 

Grocery bags and can liners.

PP 

- Polypropylene - 

Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays, bottle caps, yogurt containers, straws.

PS 

- Polystyrene - 

Foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys (packing peanuts).

OTHER 

- Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - 

An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates.

Please click HERE for more details.

Got it?? Good! Hehehe... Lets see some example..

Actually those Elianware plastic container was a birthday gift from company.. Hurmmm... No need to say anything, i know what you are thinking.. "So kedekut leh...!" Hahaha..