Packaging Education, Plastic Packaging
Plastic Packaging – Which Plastic For What Product?
Mar
The world of plastic packaging brings with it a solution for products all over the world. Plastic can be shaped into jars, bottles, dispensing pumps, cosmetic packaging and innovative ideas that can be the next big selling product on the market. Plastic packaging serves today’s packaging needs, from merchandising to product protection and let’s not forget their overall role with sustainability factors on the environment.
With this in mind, let’s get ready to explore potential packaging goals with Berlin Packaging UK.
Plastic Packaging Types
Understanding different plastic types for product production has a number of benefits. If you get the material correct, you can cut costs, be environmentally friendly, and make your product look amazing.
Here is a list of plastic types and how they are used for plastic products in the industry today.
HDPE PlasticHigh-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. With a high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is used in the production of HDPE plastic bottles at Berlin Packaging UK. HDPE is commonly recycled and has the number “2” as its resin identification code. Plastic BottlesSAN PlasticStyrene acrylonitrile resin is a copolymer plastic consisting of styrene and acrylonitrile. It is also known as SAN. It is widely used in place of polystyrene owing to its greater thermal resistance. The chains of the polymer show alternating repeat units of styrene and acrylonitrile, and it is a copolymer. Jars & Bottles
| PLASTIC TYPES | DESCRIPTION | BERLIN PACKAGING UK USES |
|---|---|---|
| PET Plastic | Polyethylene terephthalate is commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P and is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for jars, containers for liquids and foods including PET bottles, thermoforming for manufacturing, and in combination with glass fibre for engineering resins. | Plastic Bottles & Jars |
| PVC Plastic | Polyvinyl chloride – commonly abbreviated PVC, is the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC comes in two forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in construction bottles. | Plastic Bottles |
| PP Plastic | Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and labeling and textiles. It is rugged and unusually resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids. | Bottle Caps, Jars & Cosmetic Products |
| PMMA Plastic | Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), also known as acrylic or acrylic glass as well as by the trade names Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex, is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. The same material can be utilised in cosmetic packaging. | Cosmetics: lipsticks, compact containers & mascara |
| AS/ABS Plastic | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a common thermoplastic polymer. Its glass appearance is amorphous and therefore has no true melting point. ABS is a terpolymer made by polymerising styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. | Cosmetics: lipsticks, compact containers & lipgloss |
HDPE Plastic Products
A classic sample of HDPE plastic bottles with dispensing pumps. These bottles have no brand or product contents displayed enabling you to see the bottle how it is before the labelling process.
PET Plastic Products
Here is a beautiful sample of PET plastic bottles with dispensing pumps. You can match a number of caps, dispensing units and closures with these designs.
ABS/PETG Plastic Products
ABS/PETG belongs to the PET plastic family. It has a very clear glass-like finish. It is normally used for small cosmetic containers such as Mascara capsules.
AS/ABS Plastic Products
AS/ABS also can have a very clear glass-like finish or alternatively be colour matched to suit your brand guidelines. It is normally used for small cosmetic containers such as lipstick cases.
ABS/PE/PP Plastic Products
ABS/PE/PP plastic can help with the functionality of a particular product. Some of the mechanisms in the product may need stronger plastic types. It is normally used for cosmetic containers such as compact containers.
PVC Plastic Products
This PVC product sample is called a Hanging Tottle bottle. As you can see it looks very much like a PET bottle. However, the construction of materials used gives it different packaging properties.
PP Plastic Products
A great example of a PP airless container which is used for many different cosmetic applications. This product is strong yet light and clean.
SAN Plastic Products
This is a SAN plastic jar. Although small, this jar looks like glass and is very durable. These jar types are used for waxes, lotions, creams, serums and lip products.
PMMA Plastic Products
PMMA can be used with a number of different plastic combinations. These jars are made with the following types: PMMA, PETG/PP, AS/ABS.
Plastic Packaging
As you can see from the product examples, different plastic materials can be used with each other to produce the final product. This can contribute to appearance, strength, and durability and also help with how liquid contents, can react with different plastic types. Plastic packaging is surrounded by a wealth of facts, designed to produce something that works with consumers and wholesalers.
You should now have a good understanding of how different types of plastics are used for cosmetic products. If you would like to know more, please leave a comment below or simply get in touch today.
Thankyou it was very informative
It’s great to learn that plastic packaging can help with the strength and durability of your product. My wife and I are wanting to start a small clothing company and we were wondering how we should package our products. I’ll be sure to tell her that we should use plastic packaging for the products.
It was interesting when you talked about the uses for HDPE plastic, or high-density polyethylene. According to my knowledge, there are also many uses for LDPE plastic materials in addition to HDPE since they can withstand rips and tears. One use of these liners could be shipping hazardous materials in large drums!
Hello Deanna,
Thanks for the contribution, and yes, you are correct about LDPE plastic material.
It was very interesting know that SAN has an excellent thermal resistance making it very convenient for storage. If I remember correctly, LDPE sheets are another type of plastic and it’s actually what bubble wrappers are made of. Industrial manufacturing such as these are very interesting to learn.