Omar Khalid
Plastic is everywhere, from our kitchen appliances to our oceans. It is a material that has become integral to our daily lives, with applications across industries. However, the presence of plastic in the environment has detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health. With only 9% of plastic recycled annually, it is important to understand the different types of plastics to make informed decisions about their use and disposal. So, how many kinds of plastic are there?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Different Types | 7 |
| Most Common Types | PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, Polycarbonate |
| Use Cases | Packaging, Bottling, Construction, Textiles, Consumer Goods, Transportation, Electronics, Machine Parts, Optics, Agriculture |
| Environmental Impact | Plastic can stay in nature for many years, entering the food chain and having detrimental effects on humans and ecosystems. |
| Recycling | Plastic recycling rates are low, with only 9% of plastic annually recycled. Some types of plastic are more easily recycled than others. |
| Biodegradability | Biodegradability and compostability depend on conditions such as temperature, duration, the presence of microorganisms, nutrients, oxygen, and moisture. |
| Sustainable Alternatives | Bio-based plastics, biodegradable plastics, compostable plastics |
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What You'll Learn
Commodity plastics
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET):
PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic with excellent barrier properties. It is commonly used for packaging and bottling, especially for carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, and bottled water. PET is also used for food containers, medicine jars, and household cleaning products. It is widely recyclable, but if not recycled, it can take hundreds of years to decompose.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE):
HDPE is a versatile plastic made from petroleum. It is strong, chemically resistant, and opaque. HDPE is often used for containers such as milk jugs, motor oil bottles, shampoo bottles, and other toiletries. It is also commonly recycled and can be reused for food and beverage containers.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):
PVC is a tough and durable plastic commonly used in plumbing for pipes and tiles. It is also found in toys, detergents, cooking oil bottles, inflatable mattresses, and other products. However, PVC has been associated with toxic pollutants and is considered the most toxic plastic by some organizations.
Polypropylene (PP):
PP is a lightweight, durable, and heat-resistant plastic. It is commonly used in food containers, especially for storing hot food and microwaveable meals. PP is also used in automotive parts, textiles, and prescription bottles. It is considered one of the safer plastics and is widely recycled, although it can take 20-30 years to decompose in landfills.
Polystyrene (PS):
PS is a rigid, lightweight, and transparent plastic. It is available as a solid plastic or a rigid foam material (expanded polystyrene, EPS, or Styrofoam). PS is commonly used in food packaging, takeaway containers, disposable cutlery, and laboratory ware. It is also used in combination with other materials to make appliances, electronics, toys, and more. However, PS is not easily recyclable and can persist in the environment for a long time.
These commodity plastics have become integral to our daily lives due to their versatility, durability, and low cost. However, their widespread use has also led to significant environmental concerns, including low recycling rates, long decomposition times, and the release of harmful toxins. Understanding the unique characteristics and impacts of each type of plastic is crucial for making informed decisions about their use and disposal, ultimately driving us towards a more sustainable future.
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Bio-based plastics
Bioplastics, or bio-based plastics, are plastic materials produced from renewable biomass sources. They are derived from biological resources rather than fossil raw materials. Bioplastics can be made from starch-based materials like potatoes, corn, or even seaweed. They can be used for packaging or as single-use items like kitchen utensils, crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, and straws.
Bioplastics are not a new concept and were, in fact, the first plastics. They were historically made from natural materials like shellac or cellulose. However, since the end of the 19th century, they have been replaced by fossil-fuel plastics derived from petroleum or natural gas. With the growing awareness of the environmental impact of plastics, bioplastics are gaining popularity again.
There are two main types of bioplastics: durable bioplastics and degradable bioplastics. Durable bioplastics include Bio-PET or biopolyethylene, which are bio-based analogues of fossil-based polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene. Degradable bioplastics include polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate, and polyhydroxyalkanoates.
Bioplastics can be recycled similarly to fossil-based plastics to avoid plastic pollution. "Drop-in" bioplastics, such as biopolyethylene, can be easily recycled using existing recycling streams. However, recycling biodegradable bioplastics can be more challenging and may increase sorting costs and decrease the yield and quality of the recycled material.
Bioplastics have the potential to contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy. They can have a lower carbon footprint and advantageous material properties compared to fossil-based plastics. However, it is important to consider their full life cycle to ensure they are beneficial to the environment.
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PET plastics
There are seven main types of plastic, each with distinct chemical compositions, purposes, recyclability, and hazardous natures. Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is one such type.
PET is a clear, durable, and versatile plastic that is widely used for packaging and bottling. It is used to package 70% of carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, dilutable drinks, and bottled water. PET is also used for soda, water, medicine jars, and household cleaning products. It is a good barrier to oxygen, helping to prevent perishable products from spoiling.
PET is the most widely recycled plastic in the United States, with 29.2% of PET recycled in the country. It is 100% recyclable, and using recycled PET reduces environmental impact and energy consumption. However, if not recycled, PET can take hundreds of years to decompose.
PET is made through a process called polymerization, which creates a moldable plastic resin that can be easily made into different shapes. It is produced through the polycondensation reaction of monomers, which can be obtained by the esterification reaction between terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol or the transesterification reaction between ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate.
PET has a variety of applications beyond packaging. It is used in polyester fibres for textiles, 3D printing, and medical equipment. It is also used in the automotive and aeronautical sectors, such as for the creation of traffic signs and LED spotlights.
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Polystyrene plastics
Polystyrene, also known as poly-phenylethene, is a synthetic polymer made from styrene, a building-block chemical used in the manufacture of many products. It is one of the seven main types of plastic and is used in a wide variety of consumer products. Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that can be solid, foamed, or rigid. It is naturally transparent, rigid, brittle, and moderately strong in its unmodified state. However, it can be coloured with colorants and combined with other compounds to form plastics with improved properties.
Polystyrene is commonly used in food packaging, takeaway containers, and laboratory equipment due to its clarity and food safety. It is also used in appliances, electronics, automobile parts, toys, and gardening equipment. Polystyrene foam is valued for its insulating and cushioning properties, making it useful for hot tub covers, floating docks, and supplemental flotation under boat seats. Additionally, polystyrene is used in the medical field for test tubes, Petri dishes, and other biomedical research and science applications.
The production methods for polystyrene include thermoforming (vacuum forming) and injection moulding. Injection moulding is a common process for polystyrene, with low shrinkage, moldability, and the flexibility to be used in blended and foam forms. During the plastic injection moulding process, polystyrene typically shrinks less than 0.5%, which is lower compared to other injection-moulded plastics. This low shrinkage allows for capturing intricate design details in the final product.
While polystyrene has many practical applications, it has been associated with potential health risks. Studies have shown that polystyrene can be carcinogenic and harmful to human health. Additionally, polystyrene is not easily recyclable and can persist in the environment for a long time. However, recent developments suggest that certain bacteria may be capable of breaking down polystyrene and converting it into biodegradable material.
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Polypropylene plastics
There are hundreds of types of plastic, but only a handful are commonly used. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most commonly used thermoplastics in the world. It is the second-most widely produced commodity plastic after polyethylene. It was first polymerised in 1951 and has been in large-scale commercial production since 1957.
Polypropylene is a tough, rigid, semi-crystalline thermoplastic. It has a slippery, tactile surface and is highly flexible. It is also reasonably economical and has good resistance to fatigue. Its melting point occurs within a range, depending on the atactic material and crystallinity. For example, perfectly isotactic PP has a melting point of 171 °C (340 °F), while syndiotactic PP with a crystallinity of 30% has a melting point of 130 °C (266 °F).
The properties of polypropylene depend on several factors, including molecular weight and distribution, crystallinity, type and proportion of comonomer (if used), and isotacticity. The density of PP is between 0.895 and 0.93 g/cm3, making it the commodity plastic with the lowest density. Its lighter density means it can be used in applications where weight saving is a key consideration. It is also highly resistant to chemicals and fatigue, adding to its durability and versatility.
Polypropylene is used in a wide range of applications, including plastic packaging, plastic parts for machinery and equipment, fibres and textiles, and electrical applications. It is often used in food and drink packaging and is considered safe for these applications. It is also used in medical supplies and components. Its flexibility allows it to be used as an engineering plastic, competing with materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). It can be processed using all processing methods, including injection moulding, which allows it to be used to make incredibly thin layers of plastic.
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