Safer Choices of Plastics for Disposables

Ever since its invention, plastic has been the most popular raw material used for low cost containers around the world. Plastic is favoured not only because of its low cost, but also because of the ease of manufacturing, versatile applications and water resistance. Because of these properties, plastic is also the most used raw material for disposable products. As they are, most varieties of plastics are low in toxicity. But the additives used with plastics to alter their properties are all toxic and this is the main risk associated with plastics. Since it is nearly impossible to eliminate the use of plastic disposables completely, here we introduce you to some safer varieties of plastic.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
PET is the most widely used resin from the polyester family and is one of the safest plastics available today. About 30% of all plastic bottles made these days are made of PET. Generally PET is transparent but can turn semi-transparent through various thermal treatments. PET is not yet known to release any harmful chemicals that may cause cancer or upset the hormone balance of human body making it Ideal food containers, disposable or otherwise. They are also microwave safe and recyclable.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
PVC was accidentally discovered in 1872 by a German chemist. In its virgin form, PVC is free from toxins but the plasticisers used to make it softer and flexible are highly toxic. Traces of these harmful chemicals may remain on food containers during their manufacturing processes. You may avoid such risks by sticking to quality brands and trusted suppliers. Apart from these risks, PVC is an ideal choice for disposable products as they can be recycled up to 7 times.

Polyethylene (Polythene)
Polyethylene, another hugely popular plastic variety comes mainly in two forms; high density and low density. LDPE is mainly used for making plastic bags and such items that need to have more flexibility, whereas HDPE is more suitable for bottles and pipes, because of its high strength-to-density ratio. Polythene is the best alternative to latex for making gloves. Both HDPE and LDPE are highly recyclable and are safer varieties of plastic for food containers.


Polypropylene (PP)
This is also a widely used plastic variant suitable for disposable products. One of the main applications of PP is drinking straws. PP is not known to release any harmful carcinogens or other adverse chemicals. But the manufacturing process of PP is very hazardous and they are also not as recyclable as the formerly mentioned types of plastic, which is why the resin identification code of PP is 5. Other than that, PP is very safe to use for packaging and handling of food items.


These four are by far the safest available raw material options for disposable plastic food containers. It is not implied that you should not use any other types of plastic disposables. But whenever possible, try to opt for disposable products made from these materials as they are comparatively economic, easily available, more recyclable and free from hazardous chemicals.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7 Best Washroom Cleaning Chemicals for Quick Result!

Image
Cleaning a bathroom takes the most amount of time and work just as you may need it for your kitchen. Since bathroom has so many different types of surfaces and is frequently used, it is a place that needs to be cleaned often. When it comes to cleaning the bathrooms, many people feel the need to sanitise things with a blast of chemicals. Although bathroom cleaning is most likely one of the least favourite cleaning activities, it is preferred to be one of the cleanliest places. Today, there are wide varieties of chemical cleaning agents available on the shelves of supermarkets and other stationary stores for our choices of purchase. A wide variety of toilet chemicals , from a neutraliser, which works to kill odours and germs, to environmentally friendly cleaners that do not contain formaldehyde which is  accepted at all campsites. Luckily, a checklist on some of the best Washroom cleaning chemicals can make quick work of cleaning the bathroom and hands after the bat...
Read more

Advantages of Using Disposable Tableware

Image
We did not have much choice in disposable tableware, until recent years. But we now have a plethora of different varieties of disposable plates , food containers , bowls, cups, etc. Most often, we happen to think of them while planning for events like birthdays, marriages, anniversaries and such other functions. Though some adamant environmentalists spread all sorts of negative propaganda against their use, there is no denying the convenience and affordability catering disposables offer. Coming to think of the convenience, the foremost advantage of using disposables for events is in saving the time and effort for cleaning up. This comes as real big relief especially after an exhausting party. All you need to do is sweep up everything and throw into the trash bin so that you can concentrate on the rest of the tidying up process. The next big advantage is the cost, especially when the event is a big one. It is even cheaper compared to opting for renting of crockery and cutl...
Read more

Why demand for disposable medical products rise in 2018 and beyond?

Image
“The year 2018 and the upcoming years will see a huge rise in demand for disposable medical products ”, latest research reports suggest. Disposable devices are essential components in most of the medical, dental and veterinary activities which are discarded after their usage. Why this surge in demand for medical products? Emphasis on infection prevention and safety measures by hospitals and outpatient facilities have fuelled the utilisation of these devices. In addition, increasing emphasis of the government and health institutes on the public health and related hospital acquired infections propels the adoption and usage of disposable medical devices in the healthcare space. The upgrading and enforcement of infection prevention standards, coupled with an expanding volume of hospital, surgical, and outpatient procedures, will promote overall growth in the disposable product market. Which are the countries in high demand for disposable medical product...
Read more