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Plastics are omnipresent in our daily lives – from packaging of food and drinks, to water bottles, and even the insulating materials used in our houses.
Most plastics are developed from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, but what are the key distinctions between different types of plastic?
Here is a brief guide to the most commonly used plastics and their acronyms, as classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Three main families
Thermoplastics are the most widely used plastics, because they are highly pliable when heated, and can be melted and re-molded as needed.
Rubbers, meantime, can be stretched to a great extent and then return to their original shape.
Those are thermosets, which permanently harden when heated.
Inside every household, an infinite number of plastics are combined with a broad assortment of substances that may be detrimental to the environment or human health.
These additives have the ability to modify the colour of plastics, preserve their longevity, render them flexible, enhance their resistance to impact, or decrease the risk of catching fire.
PP
Polypropylene, or PP, is the most widely used plastic globally, accounting for 16 percent. It was first developed in the mid-1950s and has been utilized for manufacturing car components as well as food packaging and disposable trays.
HDPE and LDPE
Polyethylenes of high and low density are used to a limited degree of 12 percent in the global plastic industry, as reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
HDPE, invented in 1933 by British engineers, is utilized for toys, shampoo bottles, pipes, engine oil containers, and a wide assortment of household items.
Low-Density Polyethylene, developed later in the 1950s, is widely used to manufacture versatile products like reusable shopping bags and various types of food packaging film.
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is primarily utilized in construction for making window frames, flooring, pipes, or insulation for cables. It accounts for roughly 11 percent of all plastics globally.
PS
Polystyrene (PS), created in 1931 by IG Farben, accounts for five percent of the world’s plastic and is primarily used in packaging food products.
In its unexpanded form, it is used for yoghurt packaging or in building construction.
It is expanded for use in packaging fish or for insulation in the construction of buildings.
PET
Representing five percent of the world’s plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounts for the most widely used plastic for transparent drink bottles, including those used for water and sodas, as well as for opaque versions used in items like long-life milk.
PUR
Polyurethane (PUR), developed in 1937 by Otto Bayer, is utilized in insulation and mattresses, accounting for approximately four percent of the world’s plastics.
It is primarily utilized in refrigerator insulation, as cushioning foam in buildings, for adhesives, various coatings, shoe soles and in composite wood panels or surfboards.
Other types
These plastics represent 22 percent of all plastics produced worldwide and comprise materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene) used for tires, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and PMMA, also known as plexiglass.
Bio-based plastics
This group is made from organic matter like corn, sugar cane, wheat, or other by-products, and not from petroleum products.
They release less greenhouse gas emissions than plastics made from fossil fuels, but unfortunately, their production volume isn’t rising as fast as other types of plastic.
Fibres
Fibers created from diverse types of polymers are utilized in the textile industry and comprise 13 percent of all plastics worldwide.
