Correct usage of SPI’s resin PLASTICS focus identification code RECYCLING special by The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.
The SPI resin identification code was developed to provide a recovering that material in a cost-effective manner. consistent national system to facilitate recycling of post-con- These benefits of resin identification have led a number of sumer plastics through the normal channels for collecting recy- entities to develop coding systems, including SPI, the Society of clable materials from household waste. Improper use of the SPI Automotive Engineers (SAE), the American Society for Testing resin identification code can have serious ramifications for indi- and Materials (ASTM) and the International Organization for vidual manufacturers and could jeopardize the integrity of the Standardization (ISO). Except where laws may require the use coding system. Therefore, all users of the code are encouraged to of a particular code, manufacturers have the option of selecting adhere diligently to SPI’s guidelines. the coding system most appropriate for their product. Introduction The SPI resin identification code Many manufacturers are positioning their products to meet the The SPI introduced its resin coding system in 1988 at the urging public’s desire for environmentally responsible products. For of recyclers around the country. A growing number of commu- those manufacturers working with plastics, this may include nities were implementing recycling programs in an effort to facilitating the recovery of plastic products and components decrease the volume of waste subject to rising tipping fees at through the use of a resin identification code. landfills. In some cases, these programs were driven by state- The early major resin coding systems were all developed as level recycling mandates. voluntary. As such, they did not include mechanisms to moni- The SPI resin identification code was developed to meet recy- tor proper usage of codes or take action against misuse. The clers’ needs while providing manufacturers a consistent, uni- integrity of coding systems is therefore dependent on the good form system that could apply nationwide. Because municipal faith efforts of manufacturers to use the codes in keeping with recycling programs traditionally have targeted packaging — pri- their intended purposes. Recently, however, alleged abuses of marily containers — the SPI coding system offered a means of resin identification codes have led consumer and environmen- identifying the resin content of bottles and containers com- tal groups to ask the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State monly found in the residential waste stream. Attorneys General, among others, to take legal or regulatory The overwhelming majority of plastic packaging is made with action. Manufacturers now considering resin coding should be one of six resins: polyethylene terephthalate (PETE); high den- cognizant of the concerns raised by these organizations. Sim- sity polyethylene (HDPE); polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl); ilarly, manufacturers already using a coding system would be low density polyethylene (LDPE); polypropylene (PP) or poly- well advised to review their current practices. styrene (PS). The SPI resin identification code assigns each of To help preserve the right to use the SPI resin identification these resins a number from 1 to 6. code, consistent with applicable rules, this article highlights the The SPI coding system also includes a seventh code, identi- issues involved and offers guidelines for the proper use. fied as “other.” Use of this code indicates that the product in The value of resin identification codes question is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or Plastic is not any one material. Rather, it is a family of related is made of more than one resin used in combination. The materials with varying properties that can be engineered to meet “other” code was developed to address legislative demands in the requirements of a broad range of applications. The success some states that all consumer packages fitting certain size and of a product often is dependent on matching the right plastic — functional parameters feature a resin identification code. with the right properties — to the right application. The same is true when the material in question is a recycled Proper usage of resin identification codes plastic. As a result, there is a premium placed on the purity of post- From the outset, SPI has offered explicit guidelines as to the use plastics. The more uniform the post-use plastics going in, the proper sizing and positioning of the resin identification code more predictable the properties of the recycled plastic coming on containers, including the following: out. Coding enables individuals to perform quality control (i.e., • The code should be molded, formed or imprinted on all sorting) before recycling, ensuring that the recycled plastic is as containers that are large enough to accept the 1/2'' minimum- homogenous as possible to meet the needs of the end markets. size symbol and all containers between eight-ounce size and five Another potential benefit of coding is that it gallons. may facilitate the recovery of plastics not cur- • The code should appear on the bottom of the container, as rently collected for recycling. If there is a readily close to the center as feasible. Placing it in a similar location on identifiable supply of a given material in the all containers allows the code to be quickly located and easily waste stream, it may drive recycling identified. entrepreneurs to explore means of Observance of these guidelines is essential to the integrity of
REPRINTED FROM THE IAPD MAGAZINE • december 2007/january 2008 the SPI resin identification code’s stated mission: to facilitate the • The code should be applied where it will be inconspicuous recovery of post-use plastics. The code was not intended to be — to the consumer at the point of purchase so it does not influence nor was it ever promoted as — a guarantee to consumers that a the consumer’s buying decision. given item bearing the code will be accepted for recycling in • Do not make recyclability or other environmental claims in their community. Much of the past legal and regulatory activity close proximity to the code, even if such claims are properly surrounding use of the code has focused on uses that have been qualified. Specifically, do not use the term “recyclable” in prox- construed as making such a guarantee. This scrutiny is part of a imity to the code. ■ larger effort by the FTC and State Attorneys General to crack down on the use of “false and misleading environmental claims” Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., is the trade association representing one in product marketing. of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI’s members represent the entire plas- In light of these concerns, SPI offers the following additional tics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw guidelines for use of the resin identification code: materials suppliers. For more information, visit www.socplas.org.
Packaging Recycled Codes Descriptions Properties Applications Products
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), (PETE): PET is clear, Clarity, strength, Bottles for soft drinks, water, Fiber, tote bags, clothing, film tough, and has good gas and moisture barrier properties. Com- toughness, barrier to sports drink, beer, mouth- and sheet, food and beverage monly used in soft drink bottles and many injection molded con- gas and moisture, wash, catsup and salad dress- containers, carpet, strapping, sumer product containers. Other applications include strapping resistance to heat. ing bottles. Peanut butter, fleece wear, luggage and and both food and non-food containers. Cleaned, recycled PET pickle, jelly and jam jars. bottles. flakes and pellets are in great demand for spinning fiber for carpet Ovenable film and oven- yarns, producing fiberfill and geo-textiles. Nickname: polyester. able prepared food trays.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE): HDPE is used to make Stiffness, strength, Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, Liquid laundry detergent, sham- bottles for milk, juice, water and laundry products. Unpigmented toughness, resistance shampoo, dish and laundry poo, conditioner and motor bottles are translucent, have good barrier properties and stiffness, to chemicals and detergent bottles; yogurt oil bottles; pipe, buckets, crates, and are well suited to packaging products with a short shelf life moisture, permeability and margarine tubs; cereal flower pots, garden edging, such as milk. Because HDPE has good chemical resistance, it is to gas, ease of proc- box liners; grocery, trash film and sheet, recycling bins, used for packaging many household and industrial chemicals essing, and ease of and retail bags. benches, dog houses, plastic such as detergents and bleach. Pigmented HDPE bottles have forming. lumber, floor tiles, picnic better stress crack resistance than unpigmented HDPE bottles. tables, fencing.
Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC): In addition to its stable Versatility, clarity, ease Clear food and non-food Packaging, loose-leaf binders, physical properties, PVC has excellent chemical resistance, good of blending, strength, packaging, medical tubing, decking, paneling, gutters, mud weatherability, flow characteristics and stable electrical properties. toughness, resistance wire and cable insulation, flaps, film and sheet, floor tiles The diverse slate of vinyl products can be broadly divided into to grease, oil and film and sheet, construction and mats, resilient flooring, rigid and flexible materials. Bottles and packaging sheet are major chemicals. products such as pipes, fit- cassette trays, electrical boxes, rigid markets, but it is also widely used in the construction mar- tings, siding, floor tiles, car- cables, traffic cones, garden ket for such applications as pipes and fittings, siding, carpet back- pet backing and window hose, mobile home skirting. ing and windows. Flexible vinyl is used in wire and cable insula- frames. tion, film and sheet, floor coverings synthetic leather products, coatings, blood bags, medical tubing and many other applications.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE): Used predominately in Ease of processing, Dry cleaning, bread and Shipping envelopes, garbage film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative trans- strength, toughness, frozen food bags, squeez- can liners, floor tile, furniture, parency, making it popular for use in applications where heat flexibility, ease of able bottles, e.g. honey, film and sheet, compost bins, sealing is necessary. LDPE is also used to manufacture some flex- sealing, barrier to mustard. paneling, trash cans, landscape ible lids and bottles and it is used in wire and cable applications moisture. timber, lumber.
Polypropylene (PP): Polypropylene has good chemical resist- Strength, toughness, Catsup bottles, yogurt con- Automobile battery cases, ance, is strong, and has a high melting point making it good for resistance to heat, tainers and margarine tubs, signal lights, battery cables, hot-fill liquids. PP is found in flexible and rigid packaging to chemicals, grease and medicine bottles. brooms, brushes, ice scrapers, fibers and large molded parts for automotive and consumer oil, versatile, barrier to oil funnels, bicycle racks, rakes, products. moisture. bins, pallets, sheeting, trays.
Polystyrene (PS): Polystyrene is a versatile plastic that can be Versatility, insulation, CD jackets, food service Thermometers, light switch rigid or foamed. General purpose polystyrene is clear, hard and clarity, easily formed. applications, grocery store plates, thermal insulation, egg brittle. It has a relatively low melting point.Typical applications in- meat trays, egg cartons, cartons, vents, desk trays, clude protective packaging, containers, lids, cups, bottles and aspirin bottles, cups, plates, rulers, license plate frames, trays. cutlery. foam plates, cups, utensils.
Other: Use of this code indicates that the package in question Dependent on resin Three- and five-gallon Bottles, plastic lumber applica- is made with a resin other than the six listed above, or is made or combination of reusable water bottles, tions. of more than one resin listed above, and used in a multi-layer resins. oven-baking bags, some combination. citrus juice bottles and catsup bottles.
REPRINTED FROM THE IAPD MAGAZINE • december 2007/january 2008