What different plastics are there

While we believe that plastic alternatives are a must, and support initiatives to develop them, the reality is that plastic is here and will be for some time.

In the end, not all plastic is bad. Having knowledge of the different types of plastic is critical to understanding the complexity of recycling, upcycling and the health factors associated with plastic. The first step is to simply know the core basics for the types of plastic that we most encounter, numbered according to their recycling codes.

Beverage bottles are among the most common PET products. This is one of the most commonly used plastics. High-Density Polyethylene is strong and resistant to moisture and chemicals, which makes it ideal for cartons, containers, pipes and other building materials.

Examples: Milk cartons, detergent bottles, cereal box liners, toys, buckets, park benches and rigid pipes. Medical bags and tubing are a common Polyvinyl Chloride product. Plastic marked with an SPI code of 1 is made with polyethylene terephthalate. These containers sometimes absorb odors and flavors from foods and drinks that are stored inside them. However, this is still a commonly used plastic for many household items and daily essentials.

The SPI code of 2 identifies plastic made with high-density polyethylene. These products are very safe and are not known to leach any chemicals into foods or drinks. Due to the risk of contamination, however, it's not safe to reuse an HDPE bottle as a food or drink container if it didn't originally contain some kind of edible substance.

In other words, keep the shampoo bottles out of your kitchen cabinet! Plastic labeled with an SPI code of 3 is made with polyvinyl chloride. This kind of plastic should not come in contact with food items as it is a dangerous, toxic chemical. PVC is in many everyday objects, but it's mostly for industrial use in the plumbing and construction sectors.

Plastic marked with an SPI code of 4 is made with low-density polyethylene. This plastic tends to be both durable and flexible. It also does not release harmful chemicals into objects, making it a safe choice for food storage. You'll find SPI code of 5 on plastic items made with polypropylene. This type of plastic is strong and can usually withstand higher temperatures.

That's why you're able to reheat your leftovers in Tupperware without worrying about it melting! Plastic marked with an SPI code of 6 is made with polystyrene. PS can be recycled, but not efficiently; recycling it takes a lot of energy, which means that few places accept it. This is why it's a good idea to invest in a reusable mug for your daily caffeine fix!

The SPI code of 7 is used to designate miscellaneous types of plastic that are not defined by the other six codes. Think of these items as plastics, but ones that don't conform to society's rules by fitting into a specific SPI code. What are the seven types of plastic?

Why do they have different classifications? Scroll through some examples of each SPI Code in this exclusive gallery! Soda bottles and other beverage containers are often made with PETE plastic. This is an easy plastic to recycle and can be reused to create everything from storage containers to piggy banks. HDPE plastic isn't considered toxic and is often used in food and drink containers. While you shouldn't reuse these containers for food, they are repurposed to make crates and fences.

You are probably familiar with PVC for its industrial use in plumbing and construction. If recycled, this plastic can be reused to create flooring and the bottom of mobile homes.

Take your weekly trip to the grocery store and you'll come across low-density polyethylene in almost every aisle. This plastic can be used to make outdoor furniture like lawn chairs and patio tables.

Polypropylene plastic can withstand high temperatures without melting. This plastic can be recycled to create seasonal favorites like rakes and ice scrapers. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to recycle plastic made from Styrofoam.

However, it has been repurposed for license plate frames and rulers. All of the plastic that doesn't fit elsewhere falls into this category. You'll find this plastic reused to make plastic lumber, which is commonly found in outdoor decking. Not only does plastic make up a lot of items we use every day, but it's also used to create fabric.

The most common plastic-based fabric is polyethylene terephthalate, also known as polyester. The plastic used to create polyester fabric is the same material used to make water bottles, meaning your clothing can be made from repurposed materials.

Not all polyester items come from recycled plastic though. Sometimes your clothing items are made from factory-produced plastic bits. Since polyester can be made from recycled plastic, manufacturers decided fleece could be as well.

Patagonia, a well-known outdoors apparel store, was one of the first clothing retailers to embrace fabric made from recycled plastic. They began incorporating recycled fleece made from soda bottles into its outerwear collection in The shredded plastic is washed and then dried out. The plastic used to make bottle caps floats in water.

Since bottle caps are made from a different type of plastic, they can't be used to make polyester. This process helps separate the cap piece from the rest of the bottle.

Polyester threads are spun together in spools to be used later for t-shirts, jackets, and sweaters. The next time you find yourself wearing a recycled polyester sweater or cozy, fleece socks, give yourself a pat on the back.

With over 60 million plastic water bottles being thrown out each day , you'll be doing your part in making sure they get repurposed instead. They often—not always—are thermoplastics. For example, polycarbonate resists impact. Polyamides like nylon resist abrasion. Some are combinations of plastics, such as incredibly tough ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

The list of engineering plastics is quite long. Most plastic fibers are strong, stretchable, and stable under heat so fabrics can be ironed.

Some of the most recognizable plastic fibers are polyester , nylon , rayon, acrylic, and spandex, although there are many more. There are many more categories, such as coatings, adhesives, elastomers and rubbers, covering plastics that are used in everything from the space shuttle exterior to canned vegetables.

What is plastic? Learn more about plastics and plastic applications. Section About Plastics.