Common Uses Of The Big Six Plastics

Identification Code Name of plastic Description Monomer

Polyethylene Clear tough plastic, may be used as Ethylene glycol terephthalate a fiber. PET

Terepthalic acid

High density Very common plastic, usually white Ethylene polyethylene or colored. HDPE

Unplasticized Hard rigid plastic, may be clear. Vinyl chloride polyvinyl chloride UPVC

Plasticized polyvinyl Flexible, clear, elastic plastic. chloride PPVC

Low density Soft, flexible plastic. Ethylene polyethylene LDPE

Polypropylene PP Hard, but flexible plastic - many Propylene uses.

Polystyrene PS Rigid, brittle plastic. May be Styrene clear, glassy.

EPS Foamed, lightweight, energy absorbing, thermal insulation

Other. Use of this code indicates that the package in question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made of more than one resin listed above, and used in a multi-layer combination.

Note on Teflon:

(Teflon)