Each type of plastic presents a threat to the environment, not only because of its density or potential for harm but also because of the amount of products that can be made from this material.
There is no doubt that plastic is an important material for industries and in daily life, with endless utilities. The problem lies in the amount of plastic we consume and throw away.
Although it was discovered around 1860, products made from this material began to be produced between the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.
Its process of obtaining comes from the extraction of resins and other substances that are part of oil, to apply a process of polymerization.
This material is famous for its malleability qualities, for not being heavy, its functionality as a thermal insulator, its impermeability and for being an economical material.
Over time, different types of plastics have been developed, which are adapted to the needs of each company and the products they manufacture from this raw material.
Some plastics can be classified as compostable, being the least harmful to the environment. There are others that are preferable to be recycled.
However, there are some types of plastic that cannot be recycled, especially when they are mixed with other types of products, to obtain a different raw material.
Read on to learn more about the types of plastics available, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using them.
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Types of plastic and their identification
Since its discovery, different types of plastics have been developed. Each one of them, due to its composition, has different functionalities, as well as varying impact on society and the environment.
There are plastics that can be reused and recycled, others that are used to make compost and others that have a special disposal method because they contribute to increased pollution.
That is why a plastic or resin identification code was created, which works internationally and is used by industries.
Its main function is to inform companies about the materials that make up each type of plastic and the pollution they cause to the environment.
The plastic’s identification code is made up of seven types of plastic. Each type is identified by placing the numbers one through seven within Möbius triangles, which represent recycling.
Plastic types 1 and 7 have to be carefully recycled, types 2, 4 and 5 are safe and easy to recycle, and types 3 and 6 are harmful plastics.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate -better known as PET- is obtained by processing ethylene glycol or terephthalic acid through a method called polycondensation.
It is used to make bottles that will be used to store various types of beverages, because it does not allow the entry of oxygen after closing and allow the contents of the bottle to be seen because they are transparent.
This type of plastic does not generate high costs during the recycling process, so it is a viable option for companies, especially those with mass beverage sales, such as soft drink companies.
Recycling this plastic can be used to make new bottles or to generate fibers to be used in the production of ropes, sleeping bags, pillows and carpets.
High-density polyethylene
The second type of plastic is high density polyethylene or HDPE, which is obtained using ethylene. It is strong, versatile for storing liquids and can withstand high temperatures.
To transform this plastic into any product, the methods of blowing, rotomolding, extrusion and injection are used.
This plastic is used to make packaging that contains food such as oil, milk and juice, or cleaning products such as detergent or car oil.
Recycling HDPE results in new packaging, pots, food storage containers or waste disposal containers.
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is a type of plastic that is obtained by combining ethylene with chlorine, which will then be converted into vinyl chloride.
By submitting the vinyl chloride to a polymerization, we finally obtain the polyvinyl chloride.
To manufacture products with this material, it is necessary to mix it with additives that give it flexible or rigid properties, depending on the final product that is going to be manufactured with this raw material.
It is a resistant and weightless type of plastic. However, it is classified as a toxic plastic because of its manufacturing process.
PVC is used to make medical equipment, pipes, construction instruments and even shoes.
Its recycling process is cumbersome and toxic, so it is rarely done within industries.
Low density polyethylene
Another type of plastic is LDPE or low density polyethylene, for which it is produced with natural gas.
It is a malleable material that is processed under the same methods as high-density polyethylene: extrusion, blow molding and injection.
In addition, it is famous in companies for its low cost, elasticity, transparency and resistance.
It is used to make bags, wrap-around plastics and insulation. These products can also be reprocessed from recycled material.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic made by polymerizing propylene. It is a hard, heat-resistant plastic that is not heavy.
It is used to make containers containing yogurt, container lids, utensils, straws, wrappers or bottle caps.
It is a plastic that can be subjected to a recycling process to make the boxes containing car batteries, beams and pipes.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a plastic that is divided into two types: crystal polystyrene and high impact polystyrene.
Crystal polystyrene comes from oil, it is characterized by being bright and transparent like glass. It is used to make unbreakable glasses and bottles.
On the other hand, high impact polystyrene is obtained from polybutadiene occlusions, which makes it a strong and malleable plastic.
In addition to these characteristics, it is a plastic often used in construction because of its insulating quality.
Polystyrene is used to make tubes, showers, cups and trays.
It is a complicated material to recycle, because a great source of caloric energy is necessary to be able to reduce it.
Other plastics
The rest of the plastics that exist fall into this category because it is not known what types of plastics were used in their manufacture or whether they were combined.
This category also includes less common types of plastic, such as bioplastics, thermoset plastics and thermoplastics.
Bioplastics are made from natural materials and can be used as compostables. They are usually made from sugar cane bagasse or starch.
On the other hand, thermoset plastics are those that only have one chance to shape products. Since they cannot be melted, they cannot be recycled.
And finally, thermoplastics are a material that melts easily and hardens instantly, as soon as it cools down. This makes them easy to recycle and indefinite.
Advantages of using plastic
The main advantage is the diversity of final products that can be made with the different types of plastic. You can make any product you want and its hardness will depend on the plastic used.
Thanks to its quality of being an electrical insulator, it is usually used to manufacture products with plastic, such as cables, switches, insulating tapes or fuses.
Although there is a wide variety of materials for making objects, most companies consider plastic to be one of the best, a decision based on its low acquisition and production costs
Also, products made from plastic last for many years, some of them with the ability to be reused or recycled to create new products.
Disadvantages of using plastic
The main disadvantage of using plastics in many of the products we use every day is the way we dispose of the waste we generate.
Plastic takes approximately 150 years to degrade and is retained during that time in landfills or ecosystems.
In most cases, the plastic does not disappear or degrades, it decomposes into tiny particles – known as microplastics – which end up seeping into various types of ecosystems.
As they become part of the ecosystems because they are poorly disposed of, thousands of plant and animal species die. They also cause pollution in the air, water bodies and land.
The process of extracting plastic components from oil causes great damage to the environment, such as the emission of greenhouse gases.
If plastic is recycled, it should not be combined because it means more work for the machines and you get poor plastic.
