Plastics can be split into two main categories: thermoplastics & thermoset plastics, before even considering the 7 codes of plastics, it is vital to understand the basic differences between these two.
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Code 1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
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Drink bottles, medicine jars, Carpet Fibre, Clothing
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Code 2: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
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Milk, Shampoo's, Soap or Bleach bottles
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Code 3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
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Piping, Windows
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Code 4: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
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Cling film, Plastic bags, Squeezable bottles
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Code 5: Polypropylene (PP)
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Yoghurt containers, Margarine containers, Plastic bottle caps
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Code 6: Polystyrene (PS)
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Disposable coffee cups, Plastic cutlery, Packing foam
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Code 7: Other
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Baby bottles, Compact discs,Water cooler bottles
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1: PET/ PETE
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is well known as one of the most easily recycled plastics on the market. Most plastic water bottles are made from PET and when recycled they can be converted into items such as fiber-filler for duvets, carpeting, insulation, new packaging trays, or more water bottles.
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2: HDPE/ PE-HD
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are used in milk bottles and grocery bags this plastic is also considered safe for human use.
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3: V/ PVC
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these versatile plastics are used in everything from plumbing pipelines to shrink wrap. Known to contain DEHPs these plastics are considered toxic to humans.
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4: LDPE/ PE-LD
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famously known for bags, coffee cups, and “paper” milk cartons, these plastics do not contain BPAs and so are considered safer for human use.
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5: PP
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these plastics also make up the bulk of yogurt containers and insulation for winter clothing. They are tough, light-weight, and generally considered safe for human use.
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6: PS
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styrofoam, used in many items from plates and cups to packaging materials, it is considered a potential carcinogenic in the presence of heat. Also not commonly recycled, these weak and ultralight items are often culprits of ocean pollution.
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7: OTHER
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it does not contain any one of the above six resins. Code seven plastics are exceptionally dangerous to human health as many of them contain BPAs, BPSs, or both.
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1. Say Goodbye to single-use plastic water bottles, invest in an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle.
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2. Shop with reusable bags. Take your own bags when shopping!
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3. Ditch the straw! Take your own metal reusable straw, or don't use a straw at all.
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4. Try and recycle everything. Make the effort to rinse out plastic packaging to avoid contamination, place the correct waste in the correct bins and get them collected on time.
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5. Buy local and seasonal products. Go to your nearest supermarket or local food market and buy your products there.
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The world produces 381 million tonnes in plastic waste yearly – this is set to double by 2034.
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50% of this is single-use plastic & only 9% has ever been recycled.
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More than 1 million plastic bags end up in the trash every minute.
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Plastic microbeads are estimated to be one million times more toxic than the seawater around it.
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More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year.
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Marine plastic pollution has affected 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of seabirds of those examined.
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More than two-thirds of the world’s fish stocks are suffering from plastic ingestion.
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If coral encounters plastic the likelihood of it becoming diseased increases from 4% to 89%, a disastrous effect as coral is home to more than 25% of marine life.
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