Edible Oil PET Bottle Packaging

As a health conscious individual, if you regularly use edible oils, it is evident that you know their outstanding attributes. It is no secret now that we are living in a world where our bodies are unknowingly exposed to various types of ailments. Therefore, it becomes paramount for every family that its everyday meals are cooked in edible oils so as to eliminate the chances of any health perils.

However, while rejoicing the above healthy facets about the edible oils, one thing must have certainly amazed you – their packing. And when you closely observe, you are left to wonder how challenging it should be for the manufacturers – to send thousands of litres of edible oil adequately bundled in those colourful bottles to customers, and to make sure that the oil reaches your home with complete sanctity! Well, that is a sensible point; manufacturers of edible oils have to lay significantly high stress in terms of their packaging. But before we know more about that, let’s find out what characteristics make edible oils so much preferable and why their packaging has to be user-sensitive.

Why Edible Oils need special packaging

You can find edible oils in a large variety. Amongst all others, corn oil and vegetable oil are highly preferred by people because they are inexpensive. These oils go through a heavy processing mechanism due to which trans-fat content in them is excessive. Those who regularly use processed oils are always prone to different diseases such as coronary artery diseases or enhanced hypertension.

On the other hand, edible oils got high nutritional value and they reduce chances of diseases as they keep body nourished. The edible peculiarities of these oils can be enjoyed in a variety of ways:

Olive Oil lets you forget the possibility of heart problems because it is rich with monounsaturated fat. Its fruity flavour is always a surplus treat for your dishes. With regular consumption, some types of cancers and diabetes can be kept at bay. Because of these health advantages, olive oil can be assuredly used for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian cooking. Today, it becomes the top choice worldwide. People do not bother paying high in lieu of incredible health benefits achieved.

Qualities of olive oils are best retained in specialized PET bottle packaging. The PET bottle packaging primarily focuses on:

• Freshness, because this form of edible oil is usually preserved and not consumed instantly, and PET makes sure that.
• Acidity, because this is the foremost thing for extra virgin olive consumers. PET bottle packaging ascertains its originality along with its acidic flavour.

Coconut Oil is another important form of edible oil which is rich with properties that are antifungal and antiviral. National Centre for Biotechnology has confirmed its disease-fighting characteristics being rich with medium-chain fatty acid and lauric acid. This edible oil form also checks cholesterol level because of monounsaturated fat contents.

Specially designed edible oil PET bottle packaging makes sure that triglyceride levels are adequately maintained in the oil. PET also keeps the oil free from any contamination and retains its healthy-hearth qualities.

What attributes are important while designing PET bottles for oils?

Designs and shapes play an important role from the aesthetic point of view. It is a proven fact that if the design appeals to the buyer, there is greatly likely he or she go for the product. Therefore, cute and catchy designs are preferred. Specialists recommend that following attributes should be there in an oil bottle:

• Stability: It is critical that the design is stable. It can be stacked easily in the shelves/boxes. Homes, supermarkets, and conventional shops have large handling of oil bottles. Unstable/inconvenient design causes damage during transit or storage.
• Shape: Edible oil PET bottles should be should be shaped in such a way that it is convenient to pick and lift. Handling comfort is the prime criteria while finalizing the shape.
• Durability: It is important that oil bottles are durable. The design and shape shouldn’t have weaker areas that are unable to sustain pressures. There is a risk of leakage and damage from such weaker points.
• Leak-proof and moisture resistance: Absolute leakproof bottles are needed for edible oil packaging. High precision moulding machines are required for zero defect bottles. Oil has to be kept 100% moisture free because it gets contaminated in the presence of moisture. Hence, it is important that stringent quality measures are followed for production.
• Recyclability: Oil is a consumable item. Hence, there is fast recycling of packaging bottles. If the material is 100% recyclable, then it is not only environmentally friendly but cost effective as well. Use of virgin plastic is mandatory for oil bottles. The production units have to follow government norms defined for production and recycling.
• Cost: Since these bottles are required in huge quantities, they have to be inexpensive. Intricate designs bring more wastage in production increasing production cost. Simple, but unique designs are always preferred.
• Colour: Usually clear PET bottles are used for oil packaging. Dark yellow or green bottles are also a popular choice. Semi-transparent or opaque bottles are also quite popular today. It is because of the sensitive characteristics of edible oils which are always prone to oxidative deterioration like adverse circumstances leading to photo-oxidation. 
• Consequently, it becomes imperative for the manufacturers to get particularly designed bottles and pack the edible oil in bottles of specific shapes. Following part of this article elaborately discusses what PET bottle packaging used for this purpose. But before that, it should be ideal to know more about edible oils, chemical changes leading to their damage and how PET bottles turned out to be the best alternative for their packing.

Edible oils are light sensitive food items with a high risk of degradation due to oxidation. It impacts adversely on the colour, consistency, and taste. It also reduces shelf-life. Therefore, UV absorbers or chromophore deactivating substances need to be added to the material. Adequate research and concentration are required to derive at competent design.

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Pet Bottle Production - Small Scale Manufacturing

Pet jar or pet bottle production is one of the most lucrative and profitable manufacturing opportunity in plastic and polymer industry. According to experts, polymer consumption by Indian plastic industry is expected to be double in the next 6 years. It means we can expect a figure of 20 Million metric tons by 2020.

A pet bottle production unit with a simple process of injection moulding and blow moulding is a profitable venture for the entrepreneurs.

Pet Bottle Production Market Potential

Pet bottle is an essential item for industrial packaging. It caters the food & beverages industry, pharmaceutical, FMCG, chemical, biochemical, gas etc. The advantages of PET bottles include pure, safe, good barrier to oxygen, carbon dioxide and water, lightweight and, therefore, less shipping costs, no leakage, design flexibility, recyclable, long shelf life, good chemical resistance etc. Major application areas of PET bottles are carbonated soft drinks, Mineral water packing, Syrups, Edible oil packing, Butter and Mayonnaise, Wine, Liquor and spirit packing, Sauce, jam and squashes packaging, Agrochemical packaging and as household containers.

Pet bottles are replacing glass bottles because of the high rate of breakage and the inconvenience of returning the empty bottle after consumption. The consumption of PET bottles is increasing on account of new customers being created for bottled beverages as well as an increasing number of products being replaced with PET bottles.

Finance For Pet Bottle Production Business

Like any manufacturing project, there are two types of finance requirement. One is fixed capital and another is working capital. You can go for entire unit finance or can take a separate loan for different requirement. However, you can avail the term loan and mortgage loan for a fixed capital requirement. If you want only working capital assistance then you can apply for cash credit or overdraft facility to your nearby bank or any financial institution.

Pet Bottle Production Unit Setup & Machinery

Select a location carefully for the pet bottle production unit. Availability of labour, distance from the market, proper arrangements of transportation play a vital role in net profit margin. Plan carefully. After getting a machinery installation floor plan, it is advisable to craft an entire floor plan of your pet bottle production unit.

The technology/Machinery required for manufacturing of the Pet Bottles are Injection Molding Machines and one Color Mixer. Additionally, you have to procure one Chilling Water plant, a Scrap Grinder and a Centralized Pulley laminating and printing machine.

Pet Bottle Production Raw Material

The raw material used in the manufacturing of PET Bottles/ Preforms is Polyethylene Terephthalate. Polyethylene tetra phthalate is a polymer that is formed by combining two monomers called modified ethylene glycol and purified terephthalic acid.

Pet Bottle Production Process

First of all, dry the PET granules that you receive from suppliers in a dehumidifier. Then, mix the PET granules with colorants. Then feed the material into the injection molding hopper. The material is plasticized and is injection moulded in a mould which can produce 12-72 performs in a single moulding. The molded preforms are cooled in the machine itself till it can maintain its shape and is taken out and cooled to room temperature. Then, pack the items in cartons for despatch.

Plastic Bottle Manufacturing

The manufacture of plastic bottles takes place in stages. Typically, the plastic bottles used to hold potable water and other drinks are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), because the material is both strong and light. To understand the manufacturing process it’s helpful to first examine the composition of PET and how this affects plastic bottles.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

PET is a thermoplastic polymer that can be either opaque or transparent, depending on the exact material composition. As with most plastics, PET is produced from petroleum hydrocarbons, through a reaction between ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. To produce plastic bottles, the PET is first polymerized to create long molecular chains.

Polymerization itself can be a complicated process and accounts for many of the inconsistencies between one batch of manufactured PET and another. Typically, two kinds of impurities are produced during polymerization: diethylene glycol and acetaldehyde. Although diethylene glycol is generally not produced in high-enough amounts to affect PET, acetaldehyde can not only be produced during polymerization, but also during the bottle manufacturing process. A large amount of acetaldehyde in PET used for bottle manufacturing can give the beverage inside an odd taste.

Once the plastic itself has been manufactured, the bottle manufacturing process can begin. To ensure that the PET is appropriate for use, numerous tests are done post-manufacturing to check that the bottles are impermeable by carbon dioxide (which is important for bottles that carry soda). Other factors, such as transparency, gloss, shatter resistance, thickness and pressure resistance, are also carefully monitored.

Bottle Manufacturing

The first stage in bottle manufacturing is stretch blow moulding. The PET is heated and placed in a mould, where it assumes the shape of a long, thin tube. (The process by which the plastic is forced into the mould is called injection moulding.)The tube of PET, now called a parison, is then transferred into a second, bottle-shaped mould. A thin steel rod, called a mandrel, is slid inside the parison where it fills the parison with highly pressurized air, and stretch blow moulding begins: as a result of the pressurized air, heat and pressure, the parison is blown and stretched into the mould, assuming a bottle shape. To ensure that the bottom of the bottle retains a consistently flat shape, a separate component of plastic is simultaneously joined to the bottle during blow moulding.

The mould must be cooled relatively quickly, so that that the newly formed component is set properly. There are several cooling methods, both direct and indirect, that can effectively cool the mould and the plastic. Water can be coursed through pipes surrounding the mould, which indirectly cools the mould and plastic. Direct methods include using pressurized air or carbon dioxide directly on the mould and plastic.

Once the bottle (or, in continuous manufacturing, bottles) has cooled and set, it is ready to be removed from the mould. If a continuous moulding process has been used, the bottles will need to be separated by trimming the plastic in between them. If a non-continuous process has been used, sometimes excess plastic can seep through the mould during manufacturing and will require trimming. After removing the bottle from the mould and removing excess plastic, the bottles are ready for transportation.

PET a Very Crucial Raw Material For Packaging

PET has been in use from quite a long time, but recent years showed a great surge in the demand worldwide. Easy availability of the PET material has a great emphasis on packaging due to high-quality production with reduced costs. According to a forecast from Smithers Pira, there will be a sustained annual growth of 4.6 per cent year-on-year basis in the next five years. It is a phenomenal increase from any scale. Other than established economies, transitional and emerging ones become prominent players in the marketplace.

Sustainable growth would take the demand for PET packaging material to new heights

The increasing importance of attractive packaging and personal hygiene are major reasons behind the increase. A large number of PET bottles for wines, spirits, pharmaceuticals, and dairy products are needed due to their reliability and sturdiness.

Market reports say that the worldwide market will show a gigantic increase to $60 Million from the current figures of 48 Million with an annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent approximate. With a sustained growth, it will open new horizons in the coming five years.  Consumption in tones expected to reach 20 Million tonnes in the aforesaid period.

Reasons for such an overwhelming performance

Experts say that the trends were indicating a fantastic future in 2010 when PET bottles gained worldwide popularity due to easy handling, durability, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Being incredibly lightweight they are ideal for on-the-go utilization. There were various reasons behind it:

1. Due to the popularity of bottled water, ready-to-drink beverages, soft drinks, and juices there was a need for good quality durable packaging material PET emerged as the best alternative.

2. Household cleaning products and pharmaceuticals replaced conventional packaging material with PET. It is a cost-effective and convenient alternative.

As per data, around 12.5 million tonnes of total 15.4 million tonnes were contributed by PET bottles. Bottles water contributed for 5.45 million tonnes and 5.17 million tonnes by carbonated water. Experts say that the timid performance by the latter is triggered by increasing awareness about the harmful effects of sweetened drinks.

Glass-Vs-Plastic

Among other important sectors in the packaging industry, non-food packaging demonstrated a phenomenal increase of 4.4 per cent and thermoforming packaging recorded 4.7 per cent.  Thus, the fastest growth has been shown by packaged water.

Future seems to be further promising

Well-known brand owners and packaging experts are quite confident that the future is further promising for this industry. With new technology, it is possible for reducing the weight of PET bottles further. It will result in further cost-effective products. Since PET bottles share more than 80 per cent of the overall sales, it is going to be a great impact on the business. Experts predict that the bottled water is going to rock in the next five years with a consistent volume growth of 6% whereas pharmaceutical and other drinks are expected to touch the 5% mark.

Who will be the market drivers?

It is sure that the developing markets will steal the show irrespective of geography. In the last five years, Asia Pacific has left Western Europe and North America far behind. In fact, it has become the largest regional market in the aforesaid period. Global recession did not affect this region as badly as North America or Western Europe. Hence, the total share was 31% by the Asia Pacific in the last five years. Future trends indicate that it will show the same increase.

PET Consumption in Asia and other continents

PET is a versatile resin used for a wide variety of applications like food packaging, bottling, films and many more. PBT is another type of thermoplastic that is useful in electronic goods, electrical appliances, automotive parts and consumer products. There has been a phenomenal increase in the demand for PBT and PET in the last few years. Estimates show that from 2014 to 2019, there will be a steady growth of more than 7 per cent worldwide. These figures are based on the overall consumption of both types of resins.  These calculations are based on Five Forces model of Porter that takes into account the current industry trends, value chain analysis, and the top players that contribute to the consumption.

Among various contributing factors for the significant increase in the consumption of PET and PBT, some are prominent ones. Increasing the use of industrial plastic in place of metal, the surge in the use of electrical and electronic applications, emerging economies, are to name a few. Replacement of synthetic PBT with bio-based PBT and reduction in halogen content are also other important drivers. Population growth, urbanization increase, the rise in consumption of FMCG are equally responsible for the growth. There was stagnancy in economies of North America and Europe, but the increase in Asian economy shifted the focus from developed countries to developing countries.

Companies that produce PET resin focus keenly on the expansion and trying to achieve a competitive edge by enhancing efficiency.  Being a dynamic market, it is essential that customer handling takes paramount importance.  All top players spent considerably on R&D and expansions in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply. Out of all marketplaces, Asia-Pacific emerges as one of the greatest driving force behind the increase of PET and PBT consumption.

1. China comes out to be the frontrunner in the consumption of both resins due to the rise in demand by automotive and electronic sectors.

2. India, Brazil, Germany are the other big players.

3. Asia-Pacific consumes 38% PET and 54% PBT of the overall consumption. They are quite impressive.

4. A lot of mergers, acquisitions and agreements happened in last few years making it a dynamic and vibrant marketplace.

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Substituting HDPE Handle Jars With PET Handle Bottles

HDPE and PET are two popular types of plastics. They are useful for manufacturing a wide variety of products for industrial and domestic usage. Both have various qualities common, but PET has some distinct advantages that make it more suitable raw material.

What is PET?

Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET is another popular type of plastic. It is tough, shatterproof and clear. PET is an excellent barrier for gases (including Oxygen and Carbon-di-oxide) and water that make it the best material for carbonated drinks, foodstuff and milk. PET is one of the most widely used raw materials in the food industry. PET is useful in manufacturing a variety of food jars, containers and refill packs, serving trays, packaging material, industrial components, parts etc. It has been approved by food and safety authorities based on extensive toxicity studies. However, reusing of PET seems to have toxicity issues. Hence, it is recommended that PET should be recycled after single use.

Multiple times recycling of PET is possible. Also, the recycling process saves energy and helps in reducing the emission of toxic gases. It creates various domestic jobs for small and medium industries who manufacture products using it. There are various forms of a recycled PET like the fiberfill, strapping, fibre, thermoformed packaging, food or non-food bottles, trays and takeaway containers, etc.

It is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family, formed by combining Ethylene Glycol and Terephthalic acid or Di-methyl Terephthalate. Due to high clarity, good chemical resistance, and temperature tolerance, it captures a large market share of raw material supply for the packaging industry. Blow mould method or Thermoforming method are two popular methods of manufacturing. Like all other thermoplastics, PET is easily recyclable. In fact, it is easy and practical to recycle it as compared to others. The recycled PET is the raw material for manufacturing Polyester Fiber, a versatile product.

Recycling of PET

PET used bottles/containers are collected from recycling collection stations. The sorting department separates the lot according to the material type. Bundles of sorted material are dispatched to reclaiming section. The bundled material is unbundled and washed thoroughly to remove dirt and dust. Machines convert it into shreds and send to the washing section. Clean flakes stocks are ready for reuse. Flakes can be converted into polyester fibre useful in making clothing, pillows, carpets, and fleece clothes. It is possible to convert them into safe and convenient single-serve bottles also.

What is HDPE?

HDPE is the abbreviation of High-Density Poly Ethylene. The polymerization process of Ethylene produces a lightweight thermoplastic resin with great mechanical resistance quality and lightweight. Because of good chemical resistance to a large spectrum of acids or organic solvents, it is an ideal material for producing containers. Food oils, petrochemical products, other chemicals and medicines can be stored without any risk of degradation/chemical decomposition.

It is produced by a special process known as cracking. When petroleum products get intense heat under controlled condition, ethylene gas produces. The molecules of Ethylene link together and form a substance known as Polyethylene. It looks like porridge which passes through tiny holes. Holes convert it into strings. These strings go to cutting machine and turn into little granules. HDPE contains a very high density of Ethylene molecules.

Due to low transparency, it acts as a good barrier for light. However, it is little inconvenient from user’s perspective because the material can’t be perceived from outside. Some peculiar traits like high moisture resistance and lucidness stand out HDPE distinctly for a variety of applications. It has a good capacity of storing items below freezing temperature.  However, it is not possible to fill products above 110 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. It is not suitable for essential oils or storing products that need vacuum sealing.

Various manufacturers offer a commendable range of jars and bottles with multiple sizes and shapes to meet the demands of clients. Due to good holding capacity, durability, superior quality and long-lasting life, they get appreciation from users across the globe.

Recycling of HDPE

Recycle companies collect large pools of it and clean thoroughly before sending it for recycling. Other plastic polymers are separated out because it may spoil the entire lot. Since it has a relatively low specific density, the sink-float mechanism is useful for separating it from others. Near Infrared Radiation technique is another popular method of sorting other types of polymers. After that, the material is moved to the shredding and melting section. Recycled HDPE is ready for further use.

Why are PET handle bottles better than HDPE handle jars?

1. It is remarkably lightweight than HDPE or glass. Typically, the weight of a 1L bottle of PET is about 20-26 grams whereas HDPE weighs around 38-44 grams. It makes a great difference in packaging costs.

2. There is no material cost during the production process.

3. High efficient, lower power consumption and a fully automated process make PET production cost-effective.

4. PET offers improved barrier properties for Oxygen and humidity. Hence, these containers keep food items free from odours.

5. Attractive and aesthetic tailor-made bottles are made from PET.

6. It has a smooth finish, no scratch marks like HDPE. It is possible to produce transparent or attractively coloured bottles using this material.

7. It is a durable material with high shock-resistance.

8. Since PET is biologically inert material like glass, it resists attacks of micro-organisms.

9. It doesn’t contain BPA or heavy metals. It is a low-toxic and low-hazardous material.

Due to excellent usability, low cost and better quality products, PET successfully substitutes HDPE bottles, handled jars and other packaging materials. It is a cost-effective solution with incredible flexibility. As per statistics, PET is a rapidly increasing market share across all countries. Research and development are going on to make it more environment-friendly and safe plastic material. With the increasing demand in top-rated developing countries like India and China, it has a bright future. These markets have shown remarkable economic growth in the last decade. Due to enhancement in lifestyle, there is a great thrust for the packaged food industry. Manufacturers of developed countries expect exponential growth in the coming years. It is a good sign for the PET industry.

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Recycled PET Is An Excellent Raw Material For Textiles

As the use of PET increases worldwide, experts get worried about the increasing waste and its hazardous effects on the ecological system. Since it remains intact forever (or a long time), it is always advisable to recycle it and use in other industries.  So far, PET has been used successfully in the production of synthetic fabric.  It reduces production cost considerably and keeps the environment clean.

Use of recycled bottles in manufacturing textiles is a way of reusing a chemical that exists in PET bottles. It is called polyethylene Terephthalate that is also the basic ingredient of polyester fabric. Researchers have proved that the use of PET bottles results in the cost-efficient manufacturing of fabric because of less energy requirement. Bottles made from hazardous polycarbonate are not suitable for manufacturing fabrics.

There are two fundamental benefits of the whole process.

Fibres can be produced from the viscous liquid of polyethylene Terephthalate. When the recycled material is used, only half of the energy is needed to reach the desired state.

When plastic junk gets consumed for production of fresh fabric, it is an eco-friendly process reducing solid waste from trenching grounds and landfills.

The process

There are various stages of the process.

Recycle collectors supply piles of bottles to the manufacturing unit. The first step is to separate them based on colour. Workers inspect each bottle to ensure there are no foreign particles/caps/labels.

Sorted bottles go through cleaning and sterilizing process. They move to dry section and then crushed into small chips.

The chips move to the next process i.e. heating and spinning to change their shape and appearance. Chips get converted into fine threads. These threads get converted into smooth strings that move further to crimping machines. These machines change their structure and texture and make them fluffy like wool. These yarns go to the drier section and then pass through quality control tests. Only the best fibres are declared fit for selling.

For coloured fabrics, white yarns move to die section where bleaching and dying process change their appearance. The finished product is ready for dispatch after quality checking.

It is also possible to give different texture and effects to polyester fabrics made from PET bottles. Wool, velvet, corduroy and denim finish are the most popular ones. Special napper machines are used for it where yarns pass through mechanical bristles. These bristles raise the surface of the fabric and shear the raised thread for a realistic effect.

Why recycled fabrics should be preferred?

These fabrics are more eco-friendly than virgin ones because they have fewer energy needs. Also, they are economical and affordable.  According to estimates, still 75% of plastic bottles go to landfills or they contaminate the environment. If more than 90 per cent of them get recycled, there will be the immense benefit for the environment. 

Since these fabrics are cheaper than virgin ones, customers have an added advantage. It is said that a sweater is made from 60 bottles whereas a T-shirt needs 14. Carpets, sleeping bags, tapestry and many other things can be made from this fabric. Companies are doing research for making business suits with this fabric. It will be lightweight, cheap, and maintenance free.

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How Important is Colour in Packaging?

Colour plays a vital role in plastic product packaging. Whether you’re incorporating primary or complementary colours, all colours assist brands in distinguishing product packaging and help it stand out.

Consumers pay close attention to the colours of a brand’s packaging before making their purchasing decisions. Consumers pay close attention to the colours of a brand’s packaging before making their purchasing decisions.

Colour is Essential to Packaging

According to Packaging Digest, colours in product labels and packaging play a huge role in the consumer’s purchasing decisions. Studies show:

• Almost 85% of shoppers say the colour is the primary reason they’ve purchased a certain product.
• 80% of shoppers say colour increased brand recognition.

5 Most Popular Colors Brands Use to Convey Emotion

Colours have been known to evoke emotions. It also has a massive impact on consumers’ perception when it comes to product packaging. In fact, there are six colours, which have been identified as being critical in purchase decisions, according to an article by Inc.

colour swatches Colors evoke various emotions and moods that affect consumers’ purchase decisions when shopping.

1. Blue represents sincerity, cheer, and honesty.
2. Red represents new, daring, exciting, and contemporary.
3. Green represents fresh, imaginative, and communicates eco-friendly or organic as well.
4. Purple represents unique, out of the box, edgy, yet dependable, and high-end.
5. Orange & Yellow represents rugged, strong, cheerful, and optimistic.

4 Colour Trends in Packaging

While other factors, such as brand recognition and product quality, play a part in purchasing decisions, colour is still one of the most important aesthetic features to consider.

Here are four popular colour trends in the product packaging industry.

1. Pastels gained significant popularity in 2018. These colours are soothing and create a sense of calmness in consumers.
2. Colour Gradients are very popular. Everywhere you turn, you’ll be able to find colour gradients – even when you’re watching a sunrise or sunset. The colour transition of colour gradients stimulates moods like calm, peace, or even excitement.
3. Green – the word and the colour – takes on multiple meanings. While the word represents environmental friendliness, the actual colour is the indicator of its impact on the environment and the sourcing of the packaging materials. The market for environmentally friendly products is constantly growing and usually incorporates green in the packaging.
4. Colours Are Linked to Flavors, which might not be a huge surprise. Linking colours and flavours have been a common association for quite some time. For example, linking yellow to lemon flavour and red to cherry flavour creates a quick recognition of foods. Manufacturers use this method to influence split-second purchasing decisions and to drive sales.

Consumers can already tell a juice and carbonated beverages’ flavour by its colour. Consumers can already tell a juice and carbonated beverages’ flavour by its colour.

Upcoming Color Trends

The Global Cosmetic Industry predicts the top colours for the 2020 Spring and Summer seasons. Colours are beginning to reflect what attracts millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are steadily gaining more purchasing power. These consumers are interested in self-expression, quirky influences, and bold visual aspects. The forecasted trends are:

• Muted Tones
• Bright citrus hues
• Earthy reds
• Clinical influences

Interested in Making Your Product’s Brand Colors Pop?

Since colour plays such a big role in the consumer purchase decision, manufacturers can’t afford to overlook this detail.

Smart Packaging is here to become your complete packaging solutions provider. Let our knowledgeable packaging solutions specialists assist you by providing colour insights and design direction on your product packaging.

Contact Smart Packaging today.

Is it safe to drink water from plastic bottles?

Probably. But it depends on the type of plastic the bottle is made from.

When it comes to a healthy drink, nothing can compete with water.

And in an effort to be more healthy, many of us make a point of carrying water bottles with us everywhere we go. But are our water bottles a health issue? Especially those made from plastic?

Generally, they are safe, but it depends on the kind of plastic the bottle is made of.

Most plastics are made of long chains of hydrocarbon molecules, built from simpler building blocks called monomers. Some plastics then have chemicals added to give them a characteristic such as flexibility or colour.

Buying bottled water

The 'single use' water bottles that you typically buy at milk bars, service stations and the like are usually made from polyethylene terephthalate (abbreviated to PET or PETE), an inexpensive and lightweight plastic. Its recycling code (the number in the centre of the triangle of arrows found on most plastics) is 1.

"PET is not one of the plastics that one would think has a propensity to cause a problem," 

Agrees with the US FDA, which says that PET bottles are safe for use and reuse so long as they are washed properly with detergent and water to remove bacteria.

The safety of using PET bottles was questioned after a student research project hit the headlines. The 2001 study found traces of a phthalate — a potentially harmful 'plasticiser' used to make some plastics more flexible — in water from PET bottles, but the research hadn't been verified.

PET has never contained phthalates and the public's association between the two could be based on the plastic's name.

And while some preliminary studies have suggested water from PET bottles can contain as-yet-unidentified substances with 'oestrogenic' properties (which disrupt the body's normal hormone regulation),  no rigorous scientific review has backed these.

A substance called antimony is used in PET production and it can leach into the water in PET bottles. However, this doesn't pose much of a risk.

"Antimony is not in the same league as lead or mercury toxicologically so the likelihood of harm is low,'.

Using your own bottle

But what if you've decided not to buy bottled water, but to use a refillable water bottle to cut down on the plastic sent to landfill?

Polycarbonate has been commonly used to make the sturdy reusable water bottles that many of us use. Polycarbonate is one of the plastics classed as 'other' in the recycling scheme. It has a recycling code of 7, but not all bottles stamped with a 7 are made from polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate is made of a monomer called bisphenol A (BPA). As the plastic breaks down over time, BPA is released into the water held in polycarbonate bottles, particularly when the bottle is heated or repeatedly washed.

"If you have a bottle made of polycarbonate, on first use there probably isn't much depolymerisation but as you use it again and again — especially if things are warm or hot — then there's a high likelihood that there will be a breakdown of the plastic to release the monomer,".

But just because there is some BPA in the water, it doesn't necessarily mean it's dangerous.

Research in animals has found BPA can cause a range of conditions — such as cancer, diabetes, obesity and reproductive and developmental disorders. Some studies suggest that young animals metabolise BPA less efficiently than adults.

"But there's nothing much in the way of identified effects in humans — virtually all of the effects have been established in relatively higher levels of exposure in animal models. The level of exposure is probably not sufficient to cause these effects [in people]. But people who are feeding young children are saying 'I'd rather not take the chance', which is fair enough."

It's likely that soon we won't need to make these choices ourselves. Even though most national food safety agencies, including Australia's FSANZ, say that the level of exposure to BPA is too low to be dangerous, food and drink companies are moving away from polycarbonate because of the bad press.

However, other agencies, such as the US National Toxicology Program, are worried enough to be carrying out reviews and the World Health Organisation is holding a meeting next month to review all the scientific evidence.

"There is a lot of ongoing work to look at the effects of this compound to see whether this genuinely represents a big issue. The position at present is that it doesn't constitute a huge issue,".

"In effect, except that in the very near future, various agencies will make changes to the tolerable daily intake of BPA,". The internationally agreed Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for BPA is currently 0.05 mg per kilogram of body weight per day.

One plastic that can be undoubtedly dangerous for making water bottles is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which has a recycling code of 3. PVC often has phthalates added to make it flexible — though you can't tell this by looking at the recycling code. Thankfully, PVC is not often used to make water bottles.

Choosing a bottle

If you want to err on the side of caution, We suggest you avoid drinks bottles that have the recycling codes of 3 or 7, particularly for children.

The best bottles to use and reuse are those with the recycling codes 2, 4 and 5. 2 and 4 are made from polyethylene and 5 is made from polypropylene.

"There's absolutely nothing in polyethylene or polypropylene that could be classified as dangerous". But these bottles are more expensive to make, so while they are likely to be found more and more in reusable bottles, PET is likely to be the plastic of choice for single-use bottles for a while to come.

You can also check that reusable bottles say they are 'BPA-free', as some bottles may be made of number 5 plastic but use polycarbonate linings or mouthpieces.

Another rule of thumb is to use clear plastic rather than coloured or opaque because they eliminate small potential risks from colouring agents added to the plastic.

And while stainless steel or aluminium bottles are often considered a safe bet, these still have some issues. Stainless steel can corrode a little over time and while the released iron won't harm you, it'll add an unpleasant taste to your water.

Aluminium can also corrode and release aluminium salts into the water. One way of stopping this is to use a plastic liner, which takes you to square one. The glass is a good, but often impractical.

"In the end, you've got to balance all the issues. I would think that many bottles are safe to use, even PET ones. The only ones I would advise against are PVC and polycarbonate,".

To buy from PET bottle manufacture in Kerala visit here

How to Recycle Medicine Bottles

Limited resin code acceptance and reuse options plague medicine bottle recycling, yet your community may still have a convenient recycling option in place.

Every year an estimated 10 billion prescriptions and buy even more over-the-counter medications. Prescriptions are commonly packaged in orange plastic bottles. Over-the-counter medications have a wider variety of bottle types, including clear, opaque and coloured plastic. The problem with recycling prescription medicine bottles is that most curbside programs do not accept them. The tough thing about reusing them is that they should not hold food products, lest leftover medication makes its way into food. 

Add that to the difficulty of disposing of leftover painkillers, antibiotics, sleep medication and antidepressants, and finding a way to deal with medicine bottles in an eco-friendly manner can seem like a lost cause. But do not give up hope quite yet. It can be fairly easy to recycle non-prescription medicine bottles depending on their composition and the rules at your local recycling company. And, as the issues involved with disposing of old medications become more prominent, new solutions for recycling these products are becoming available.

What are medicine bottles made of?

The orange bottles that hold prescription medication are typically made of polypropylene, also known as PP or by the resin code #5. Polypropylene is the plastic of choice for many food manufacturers and can also be used to make fabric and household products like carpeting and roof membranes. Light can damage medication, which is why the bottles are tinted. Bottles that hold over-the-counter medication are most commonly made of #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, or PET or PETE), #2 (high-density polyethylene, or HDPE) and #5 plastics. White opaque bottles are typically #1 or #2 plastic, while clear or coloured bottles are more likely to be #5 plastic.

Why is it important to recycle medicine bottles — and medicine?

Medicine bottles are made of plastic, which will not biodegrade. Imagine billions of those bottles creating a permanent sea of translucent orange plastic in landfills across the country, and you can imagine why it is important to find another use for them. Just as important is finding a good way to dispose of the medicine contained in those bottles. 

The answer is not to flush them down the toilet. Even the best sewage treatment plants will not remove prescription medications from the water before it is discharged into rivers and streams. Drugs can affect fish and other wildlife, and they will eventually make their way back into human consumption. Hanging onto drugs indefinitely is not a good solution either. Old medications may not work properly after their expiration date, and some in the house may find those drugs awfully tempting. A 2012 survey showed that 24% of teenagers admitted that they had taken prescription medications that were not prescribed to them.

How to recycle medicine bottles

Many curbside recycling programs that accept #1 and #2 plastic will take medicine bottles made with that material. However, some limit #1 and #2 plastic collection to tubs and bottles of a certain size and shape. Check with your recycler to find out their policies on plastic collection. Municipalities that accept #5 plastic are fewer and farther between.  A better option is to see if your local recycling centre accepts #5 plastic. All the recycling centres in Iowa City, IA, take #5 plastic. So does the Shoreway Recycling Center in San Carlos, CA (it will even pay for used plastics, although the amount is pretty small).

Use 1-800-Recycling's recycling location search tool to find a #5 plastic recycler in your community. You can also recycle #5 plastic through a service called Gimme 5. The program is run by Preserve, which makes consumer products from recycled plastic. Whole Foods Market is a major partner in the Gimme 5 initiative and has #5 plastic collection bins in many of its stores. If you do not live near a Whole Foods, you can mail all your #5 plastic to Preserve using the address on their website. There is no charge to recycle these plastics other than the cost of shipping.

How to safely dispose of medication

Government agencies and industry groups are making big strides toward dealing with the problem of prescription medication disposal. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration has started National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days designed to gather and properly dispose of unwanted medications. Working with local law enforcement agencies, each state sets up several sites where people can drop off pills. Take Back Days typically happen once or twice a year. 

Some cities and counties have permanent collection locations for unwanted prescription medications. In Eugene, OR, for example, people can drop medications in special collection boxes located inside government buildings. Medications cannot be recycled for obvious safety reasons, but they can be burned in special incinerators that keep harmful substances from entering the air.

How to reuse medicine bottles

Old medicine bottles can be reused as storage containers for items such as sewing supplies, screws, nails and small hair accessories. They also look great incorporated into light fixtures, turned into vases or used as moulds for homemade crayons

Why Are Chemicals Stored In Plastic Containers?

Have you ever wondered why plastic containers are most commonly used for storing chemicals? It goes well beyond the variety of shapes and sizes they come in, or the environmental benefits they offer, although these are major bonuses. Storing a chemical in the right container is the first way to ensure safety when handling strong acids and bases. A material that is likely to react with the chemical it holds, like a metal container, or break easily when dropped, like a glass container, isn’t going to be suitable for a substance like nitric acid, for example. This why there are a variety of plastic materials used for storing acids and bases so that each container can accommodate the unique properties of individual chemicals

Three Types of Plastic Containers

Polyethylene (PE)

Polyethylene was first synthesised in Germany in 1898 when chemist Hans von Pechmann prepared it by complete accident. Since then, PE has become the most common and widely produced plastic in the world. It can be used in three forms, which demonstrate its versatility and ability to be incorporated into a wide range of applications.

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) is used to produce grocery bags. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) has a higher crystalline structure and can be recognised in your garbage bins and drainpipes. Ultrahigh Molecular Weight PE has higher performance applications and is even used to produce bulletproof vests. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why PE is an ideal material to store chemicals in. High-Density Polyethylene creates corrosion resistant plastic containers, and its thermoplastic properties mean that it can withstand temperatures, be cooled, and reheated again without any significant degradation. The diversity of PE variants means that it is compatible with most strong acids and bases. Like with the bulletproof vests, PE is noted for its high impact strength. This makes it perfect for storing chemicals as it is very difficult to break, and therefore decreases the risk of chemical spills. 

Polymethylpentene (PMP)

PMP is a transparent, thermoplastic polymer with high chemical resistance. But this complex polyolefin is actually the backbone to a very familiar object: beakers. We’ve all used beakers in Science class, and have at some time or another dropped one on the floor. Often, they do not break, and this is because classrooms have made the shift from glass beakers to Polymethylpentene beakers While PMP is more brittle than its cousin, Polyethylene, it can be designed to be shatterproof. Its clear material means that substances can be seen easily, and it’s also highly resistant to corrosion. PMP makes perfect plastic containers for storing both acids and bases of different strengths.

Teflon

Another accidental discovery by Roy Plunkett in 1938, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is the fluoropolymer behind Teflon. It is characterised by its hydrophobic properties, which means that most substances are unable to stick to Teflon. This is why it is able to resist corrosion from many chemicals, such as sulphuric acid and nitric acid. The slippery material means that PTFE will not absorb the chemicals it comes into contact with, and the strength of its carbon-fluorine bonds makes it non-reactive. For these reasons, Teflon-coated plastic containers are ideal for storing a wide variety of acids and bases. 

But what about glass containers? 

While glass containers do have their advantages, such as being nonporous and chemically inert, they have major drawbacks in the fact that they break easily. Not only would this create sharp glass fragments, it would also expose potentially harmful and corrosive chemicals. In addition, not all acids and bases are safe to store in glass containers, meaning that its versatility is very limited. Hydrofluoric acid, for example, has the propensity to eat through glass (SiO2); it contains the element Fluorine which can dislodge oxygen from its bond. On the other hand, Hydrofluoric acid can be stored in Polyethylene, Polymethylpentene, and Teflon containers, showing how plastic containers are the ideal material for containing chemicals.

The chemical substances are stored in containers made of different materials, such as plastics, metals, and glass depending on the substance. Most of the chemicals are stored in glass containers, not in plastics containers because glass is more neutral and durable in contact with chemicals. They may influence the chemicals less. Plastic materials usually contain some amounts of additives (stabilizers, processing aids, etc.) that may contaminate the chemical. Plastic containers are also used to temporarily store some of the chemicals.

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The Numbers Behind Plastic

Plastics are everywhere. Look around you, from your home, just how many plastic items around you can take notice? From food containers, household utensils to bags, kid’s toys, shower curtains, cosmetics packaging and water bottles – plastic has become a permanent fixture in everyday lives, and this has been quite alarming especially when it comes to safety.

1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE or polyester)

Description:  PET is the most well-known member of the polyester family of plastic polymers. It initially gained widespread use as a wrinkle-free fibre (commonly called "polyester"), and the majority of its production still goes toward textile manufacturing. It has become extremely popular for food and drinks packaging purposes because of its strong ability to create a liquid and gas barrier - so oxygen cannot get in to spoil food, and the carbon dioxide that makes drinks fizzy cannot get out. Properties:  clarity, lightness, strength, toughness, a barrier to liquid and gas.

Typical Use:  Bottles (water, soft drink, juice, beer, wine, mouthwash, salad dressing), peanut butter/jam jars, oven-ready and microwaveable meal trays, detergent and cleaner containers. Also used in liquid crystal displays, the film for capacitors, insulation for wire and insulating tapes, and as a common finish for wood products such as guitars, pianos and vehicle/yacht interiors.

PET fabric (polyester) is commonly used in textiles (fabric and clothing), padding and insulation (for pillows, comforters, upholstery), carpet, and mouldings. Also for tyre reinforcements, conveyor belts, safety belts, coated fabrics and tarpaulins. 

Toxicity:  PET may leach antimony (antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst and flame retardant in PET) (PET1, PET2). The longer a liquid is left in a PET container the greater the potential for release. As well, warm temperatures inside cars, garages, and enclosed storage areas increase the release of antimony into the liquid. Antimony trioxide is considered a possible carcinogen (PET3). Workers exposed to antimony trioxide for long periods of time have exhibited respiratory and skin irritation and among female workers, increased incidence of menstrual problems and miscarriage -- while there is no evidence that these effects could arise from exposure to the small amounts of antimony released from PET products (such as water bottles), we prefer not to be exposed to it at all (PET3).

The evidence is also emerging that phthalate endocrine disruptors also leach from PET (PET4, PET5).

PET as a textile - i.e., polyester - likely contains flame retardants incorporated into it during the manufacturing process. As such, polyester is often described as "inherently flame retardant", but it is unclear exactly which flame retardant chemicals are added to polyester as it is being made, and thus it is difficult to know if there is a toxicity issue with polyester fibre.  

Recycling:  About 29% (PET6). Recycled material downcycled into polyester fibre for fleece clothing, tote bags, strapping. Note: "Downcycling" means that the recycled material is of lower quality than the original PET, and can only be made into progressively lower quality products until it can no longer be recycled and becomes landfill waste which is most likely landfilled.

Alternatives:  Use a glass or stainless steel reusable water bottle. Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Choose natural fabrics (e.g., organic cotton, wool, hemp) for clothing.

2. High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Description:  Polyethylenes are the most widely used family of plastics in the world. The versatile Polyethylene polymer has the simplest basic chemical structure of any plastic polymer (repeating units of CH2: one carbon and two hydrogen molecules) making it very easy to process and thus extremely popular for numerous low-value applications - especially packaging. HDPE has long virtually unbranched polymer chains which align and pack easily making it dense and very crystalline (structurally ordered) and thus a stronger, thicker form of-of polyethylene. Properties:  stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to moisture, permeability to gas, ease of processing. 

Typical Use:  Plastic bags (grocery), opaque milk, water, and juice containers, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, garbage bags, dishes, yoghurt and margarine tubs, cereal box liners, some medicine bottles. Also used in Tyvek insulation, PEX piping, plastic/wood composites.  

Toxicity:  Being relatively stable, it is generally considered a safer plastic for food and drink use, although some studies have shown that it can leach the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol (added to HDPE as a stabilizer), especially when exposed to ultraviolet light - i.e., sunlight - and possibly other additive chemicals with estrogen-mimicking activity (HDPE1, HDPE2, HDPE3).

Recycling:  About 29% (HDPE4). Recycled material made into bottles for non-food items like shampoo, laundry detergent, motor oil; plastic lumber and furniture, piping, recycling bins, fencing, floor tiles, buckets, crates, flower pots, garden edging, film and sheeting.   

Alternatives:  Use glass or stainless steel reusable bottles and food storage containers. Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use reusable bags made of natural fibres (cotton, hemp).

3. Polyvinyl chloride (V or Vinyl or PVC)

Description:  Long the second most widely used plastic resin in the world (after polyethylene), PVC (or vinyl) use has decreased because of serious health and environmental pollution issues associated with its manufacture, use and disposal -- its whole life cycle is toxic. But it is still popular and in common use because of its cost-effective versatility. The base monomer is vinyl chloride - the presence of chlorine is the cause of many of PVC's problems - which can be combined and blended with numerous chemicals (including plasticizers such as phthalates) to create resins with properties ranging from rigid to filmy to soft to leathery.  Properties:  versatility, ease of blending, strength, toughness, clarity, transparency.

Typical Use:  Soft PVC (softened with plasticizers) used in toys, clear food (e.g., take-out) and non-food packaging (e.g., blister wrap, cling wrap), squeeze bottles, shampoo bottles, mouthwash bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles, loose-leaf binders, shower curtains, blood bags and medical tubing, "pleather" clothing, Naugahyde upholstery, wire and cable insulation, carpet backing and flooring. Rigid PVC used for blister packs and clamshell packaging, credit cards, piping (e.g., for plumbing), vinyl siding, window frames, fencing, decking, and other construction materials.

Toxicity:  PVC is widely considered the most toxic and hazardous plastic that is still - unbelievably so - commonly used to make numerous consumer products (PVC1, PVC2). It may contain and/or leach a variety of toxic chemicals including, but not limited to:  bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, lead, dioxins, mercury, and cadmium. Here is a taste of the toxic life cycle of PVC:

The vinyl chloride monomer from which PVC is made is a known carcinogen (PVC3), thus putting manufacturing workers and surrounding communities at risk (PVC1).

Soft forms of PVC, such as toys and packaging and bottles, may leach phthalates. For example, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) are two phthalates commonly used as plasticizers or softening agents (usually DEHP). DEHP and BBzP are endocrine disruptors mimicking the female hormone estrogen and have been strongly linked to asthma and allergic symptoms in children living in homes where PVC dust was present (PVC4, PVC5) and to ADHD in children (PVC6); may cause certain types of cancer, including breast cancer (PVC7). Recent consumer product legislation in Europe, Canada and the US, bans DEHP and BBzP and other dangerous phthalates from use in children's products in concentrations greater than 0.1% (PVC8, PVC9, PVC10).

When PVC is burned (e.g., via waste incineration, car or home fires), dioxins are formed. Dioxins are known human carcinogens and persistent organic pollutants and are considered one of the most toxic types of chemicals ever tested (PVC1, PVC11).

Recycling Rate:  Very low (PVC12). Rarely recycled because it is difficult to do so on an industrial scale. It should not be recycled because it contaminates the recycling stream. Recycled PVC can become packaging, binders, decking, panelling, insulation, mud flaps, film and sheet, flooring, garden hoses.

Alternatives:  Use glass or stainless steel reusable bottles and food storage containers. Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use non-plastic food wrap. Use recycled cardboard binders. Use recycled kraft paper, recycled cellulose wadding or compostable cornstarch peanuts for packaging. Use hemp or cotton shower curtains, and rubber hoses. Green building has taken off and there are now numerous healthy and eco-friendly alternatives to vinyl construction materials. 

4. Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Description:  Polyethylenes are the most widely used family of plastics in the world. The versatile polyethylene polymer has the simplest basic chemical structure of any plastic polymer (repeating units of CH2: one carbon and two hydrogen molecules) making it very easy to process and thus extremely popular for numerous low-value applications - especially packaging. LDPE polymers have significant chain branching including long side chains making it less dense and less crystalline (structurally ordered) and thus a generally thinner more flexible form of polyethylene. Properties:  strength, toughness, flexibility, resistance to moisture, ease of sealing, ease of processing. 

Typical Use:  Mostly for film applications like bags (grocery, dry cleaning, bread, frozen food bags, newspapers, garbage), plastic wraps; coatings for paper milk cartons and hot & cold beverage cups; some squeezable bottles (honey, mustard), food storage containers, container lids. Also used for wire and cable covering.

Toxicity:  Being relatively stable, it is generally considered a safer plastic for food and drink use, although some studies have shown that it can leach the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol (added to LDPE as a stabilizer), especially when exposed to ultraviolet light - i.e., sunlight - and possibly other additive chemicals with estrogen-mimicking activity (LDPE1, LDPE2).

Recycling Rate:  Low (LDPE3). Difficult to recycle. Recycled material can be made into compost bins, panelling, plastic lumber.

Alternatives:  Use glass or stainless steel reusable bottles and food storage containers. Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use reusable bags made of natural fibres (cotton, hemp). Use non-plastic food wrap.

5. Polypropylene (PP)

Description:  Polypropylene is used for similar applications as polyethylenes, but is generally stiffer and more heat resistant - so is often used for containers filled with hot food. It too has a simple chemical structure (many methyl groups of CH3 - one carbon and three hydrogen molecules) making it very versatile. It's crystallinity (structural order affecting hardness & density) is quite high, somewhere between LDPE and HDPE. Properties:  strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease & oil, the barrier to moisture.

Typical Use:  Food containers (ketchup, yoghurt, cottage cheese, margarine, syrup, take-out), medicine containers, straws, bottle caps, Britta filters, Rubbermaid and other opaque plastic containers, including baby bottles. Other uses include disposable diaper and sanitary pad liners, thermal vests, appliance parts and numerous car parts (bumpers, carpets, fixtures).  

Toxicity:  Being relatively stable, it is generally considered a safer plastic for food and drink use, although it has been shown to leach plastic additives (such as the stabilizing agent oleamide) when PP labware was used in scientific experiments (PP1) and one older study has suggested heated PP may be linked to occupational asthma based on the exposure of a worker in a PP factory (PP2).

Recycling Rate:  Low, because often pigmented or mixed with other resins, therefore difficult to sort (PP3).  Recycled material made into brooms, brushes, bins pallets, auto battery cases, flower pots. 

Alternatives:  Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use a glass or stainless steel reusable water bottle. Purchase margarine/butter in cubes. 

6. Polystyrene (PS)

Description:  Polystyrene is commonly associated with the trade name Styrofoam food containers and packing peanuts made of expanded PS (EPS), which is essentially foamed PS that has been puffed up with air. PS synthesis requires benzene, a known carcinogen, to form the monomer styrene, which is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Apart from low cost, low strength foam, PS can be made as a clear, glassy, hard polymer used for things like cutlery and cd cases; also higher impact versions exist for harder applications. Properties: versatility, clarity, easily formed. 

Typical Use:  EPS: Styrofoam food containers, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, take-out food containers, deli food plates, packaging, packing peanuts, bike helmets. Harder clear/opaque PS: disposable cutlery & razors, compact disc & DVD cases. High impact PS: hangers, smoke detector housing, licence plate frames, medicine bottles, test tubes, Petri dishes, model assembly kits.

Toxicity:  PS food containers can leach styrene, which is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen (PS1, PS2) and is considered a brain and nervous system toxicant (PS1, PS3, PS4). Animal studies have shown adverse effects on genes, lungs, liver, and the immune system (PS2). Note that styrene is also present in second-hand cigarette smoke, off-gassing building materials, and car exhaust.  The leaching of styrene from PS containers into food is increased when the food or liquid is hot and oily (PS3, PS4). 

Recycling Rate:  Very low, because difficult to recycle (PS5). Recycled material made into packaging and thermal insulation.

Alternatives:  Avoid PS take-out containers - bring your own reusable dishes/containers for take-out. Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use reusable dishes (e.g., ceramic, stainless steel) and cutlery (e.g., stainless steel, bamboo) for picnics and events.

Other (O) - all other plastics

This category does not identify one particular plastic resin. It is a general catch-all for all plastics other than those identified by numbers 1-7 and can include plastics that may be layered or a mixture of various plastics. It includes the new bioplastics.

Polycarbonate (PC) is an extremely common plastic in this category and is often associated with this category (sometimes a product will have the number 7 on it with the letters "PC" underneath), so we describe it below -- But keep in mind that polycarbonate is not the only plastic in this category and if a product has a number 7 on it without the letters PC under it, the product could be made of polycarbonate or it could be any other plastic (and there are thousands!). The only way to know for sure is to ask the manufacturer or have the plastic tested. 

Polycarbonate (PC)

Description:  Polycarbonate use as a consumer plastic has decreased drastically in recent years due to the health-related problems associated with bisphenol A (BPA), the primary molecule in PC polymers, as well as increasing national bans on its use for certain products such baby bottles and infant formula packaging. It is a tough family of engineering plastics originally developed to be an alternative to die-cast metal. Its strength and transparency made it a popular choice for consumer products needing to be shatter-proof, and also for epoxy resins. PC is also known by various trade names including Lexan, Makrolon and Makroclear. Properties: Easily moulded, temperature resistance, stiffness, strength, optical clarity.

Typical Use:  Baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, three and five-gallon large water storage containers, metal food can liners, juice and ketchup containers, oven-baking bags, carbonless paper receipts.  Also used in custom packaging, eyeglass lenses, epoxy resins, dental sealants, compact discs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, lab equipment, gears, snowboards, car parts, housing for cell phones, computers and power tools. 

Toxicity:  The problem with PC is bisphenol A (BPA), the synthetic backbone which readily breaks down and leaches from PC. For example, BPA leaching is a significant concern with PC epoxy-lined cans used for foods, especially oil-based and/or acidic foods, which will increase leaching. There is lots more information in our BPA section but in a nutshell... BPA is often described as a hormone or endocrine disruptor, because it mimics human hormones, in particular, the estrogen hormones, which are involved in normal cellular function, reproduction, development and behaviour. Peer-reviewed scientific studies have linked BPA to numerous health problems including chromosome damage in female ovaries, decreased sperm production in males, early onset of puberty, various behavioural changes, altered immune function, sex reversal in frogs, impaired brain and neurological functions, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, obesity, resistance to chemotherapy, increased risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, and metabolic disorders -- research into the impacts of BPA on human health is extensive and ongoing (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4).

Recycling Rate:  Very low (PC). Not all municipalities include polycarbonate as readily acceptable for their recycling programs. Recycled PC may be used to make plastic lumber.

Alternatives:  Buy in glass and reuse those bottles/jars - mason jars are incredibly versatile. Use a glass or stainless steel reusable water bottle. Use a stainless steel water dispenser for large quantities of water or other liquids. If you must use the large blue PC bottles, transfer the water to another container as soon as you bring it home.

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