Have you noticed numbers or symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles and wondered what they are? They are the indicators of the types of plastic bottles.
Simply, they tell you what plastic manufacturers have used to make your product. We often think of plastic bottles as just one type of material, but less did you know that you have come across 7 different types of plastic bottles.
The plastic bottle you have right now—what type do you think it is?
Plastic bottles are different from each other. It is not what you think. They are created for different uses and provide you with different benefits. Some are safe to use and some cause hazards.
When it comes to choosing a plastic bottle, it is better to know which plastic bottle types suit you the most. In this article, learn all about those 7 common types of plastic bottles.
The Reasons Behind Their Variety
Designing different types of plastics with different materials and compounds to possess unique properties. They vary in strength, durability, flexibility, and heat resistance.
The society of the plastic industry introduced the RIC system (Resin Indication Code) to divide plastic resins into 7 different categories. The main purpose of dividing is to make recycling easier for consumers, manufacturers, and recyclers. The uses and benefits of plastic bottles vary from each other. Therefore, through types, we can identify and sort plastics based on chemical composition and properties while reducing environmental waste and improving recycling processes.
Different Types of Plastic Bottles
The world is more focused on reusing and recycling. We commonly have heard that plastics are recyclable and reusable. But is it really safe to do so?
The actual fact is that not all plastic bottles are designed for reuse; some of them are for single-use. Let’s see the different types of plastic bottles and how they are different from each other.
| Plastic Type | Material Code | Material | Features | Reusable |
| PET |  | Polyethylene Terephthalate | Lightweight, durable, and recyclable | Yes |
| HDPE |  | High-Density Polyethylene | Lightweight, durable, and shatterproof | Yes |
| PVC |  | Polyvinyl Chloride | lightness, durability, and processability | No |
| LDPE |  | Low-Density Polyethylene | Flexible, transparent, and lightweight | Yes |
| PP |  | Polypropylene | BPA-free, flexible, and light-density | Yes |
| PS |  | Polystyrene | Lowest weight, cheap, and toxic | No |
| Other Plastics |  | Polycarbonate, LEXAN, BPA plastic | Hazardous, release chemicals | No |
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
What are PET bottles? PETs are plastics belonging to the number one group. They are made out of polyethylene terephthalate. It is number one due to its widespread use in making a number of consumer items. If you purchase soft drinks, salad dressing bottles, water bottles, and mouthwash bottles, they all come in PET plastic bottles.
70% of consumer liquids are made with PET plastic bottles for plenty of reasons.
- Ideal for use in refrigerators as they have resistance to cold temperatures.
- Neither react with acidic foods or beverages nor produce off-tastes.
- Withstand pressure inside the bottle while storing carbonated soft drinks.
- Lightweight and provide a good barrier to outside elements that affect the content.
PET is environmentally friendly as it is 100% recyclable and has a tremendous track record of being the most widely recycled plastic in the world. However, PET plastic bottles are not suitable for hot beverages since they cannot withstand heat.
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
We use shampoo bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, and more. These bottles use HDPE (High-Density polyethylene) material. This is considered one of the versatile plastic materials used in a wide variety of applications. The global HDPE bottles market size is estimated to reach USD 78.74 billion by 2033.
It is much stronger and thicker when compared to PET due to its unbranched polymer chains.
This type is considered safe as it makes it inactive in the human body. It can be recycled many times without losing quality and strength, making it an environmentally friendly choice. One of the benefits of this type of plastic bottle is that it can withstand UV radiation, rough handling, and extreme temperatures.
You can use them for storing products that require long shelf lives and exposure to diverse conditions. However, they expand under high thermal temperatures and do not resist chlorinated hydrocarbons or oxidizing agents.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
When cleaning your car, you might have reached for a bottle of engine oil that’s strong and rigid. If you notice, you’ll find that it would have been labeled to have been made of PVC plastic.
Known to be the third most produced synthetic plastic polymer, PVC bottles are durable. What’s more special is that they can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. These types of plastic bottles are used for oils, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and products that need long-term storage.
You can use household cleaners and sprays because of its highly chemical-resistant. Although it is not ideal for food or beverage storage, it is best suited for non-consumable products. Moreover, they are not plastics that can be recycled.
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
You pick up a ketchup bottle and squeeze it to pour out the sauce. On the other hand, you take a sanitizer bottle and squeeze it gently to dispense the sanitizer on the arm. The structures of both bottles may seem different from each other, but they are made from LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene).
These types of plastic bottles are suitable for products that need refrigeration and products that require high visibility. Of all plastic bottles, LDPE has the simplest structure, being easy and cheap to produce. It has a few properties for the ones looking for a strong bottle with a flexible structure. The flexibility can even withstand extremely cold temperatures.
Benefits of LDPE include,
- Flexibility with bends and stretches.
- Resistance to moisture, water, and concentrated chemicals.
- Fairly cheap to manufacture.
However, the cost of recycling is high compared to other plastic bottles.
PP (Polypropylene)
PP stands for Polypropylene, one of the most commonly used thermoplastics. It is a rigid semi-crystalline thermoplastic, used in domestic and industrial applications. The global PP market size is estimated to be USD 83.85 billion in 2023.
These plastic bottle types are BPA-free and are often used for infant feeding bottles. These bottles resist oils and alcohol, making them ideal for cosmetic formulations like lotions, creams, and serums. Other than that, it can be used to make water bottles, cleaning bottles, and lab and chemical bottles.
They are popular due to their highly flexible properties, lighter density, and have the ability to adapt to a range of fabrication techniques. Being relatively low-cost, they are readily available in many countries. The disadvantage is that polypropylene is not conducive to being easily recycled.
PS (Polystyrene)
PS stands for Polystyrene. It is also known as Styrofoam. It has a few marvelous benefits, like being cheap to produce and having the lowest weight. Therefore, it is used for packaging and insulation purposes. It was introduced for making food and coffee cups due to its low cost.
But it is toxic and can be hazardous. They are not suitable for recycling and therefore used as single-use bottles for giveaways, promotions, or decorations. They break up easily due to their weak and lightweight structure. You might have seen pieces of these plastics on beaches or other marine places. This is because they disperse throughout the natural environment.
Other Plastics
Other than these types of plastic bottles, you might have heard of Polycarbonate (PC), Polylactic Acid (PLA), and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Under what number does these come?
The plastics that are not identified in the above-mentioned 6 types come under group number 7. They are usually made from materials like polycarbonate, LEXAN, or BPA plastic materials. These plastics are not commonly used in production, particularly due to their high ability to release chemicals. They are still used to making bottles for babies and water cooler bottles.
These bottles are not recommended for reuse as they can be dangerous to your health and the environment. Moreover, they are never recycled.
Key Considerations For Choosing Plastic Bottles
- The most picked ones for recycling are HDPE, LDPE, and PET plastic types
- The safe options for plastic bottles are HDPE, LDPE, PET, and PP
- Avoid using PS and other plastic types while using PVC with caution.
From Bottles to Jars: Versatile Plastic Bottles
If you are looking for the right place to buy plastic bottles, then Jars Bottles is an ideal place. We are a renowned cosmetic packaging manufacturer with an extensive customer base around the world.
Jars Bottles manufactures pill bottles, roll-on bottles, spraying bottles, cosmetic bottles, dropper bottles, plastic jars, and other bottles. We mainly focus on producing plastic bottles made from HDPE, LDPE, PET, and PP materials.
- Our bottles are outstandingly resistant to chemicals
- We undergo rigorous testing and inspection processes
- Jars Bottles guarantee 100% safety
We provide the ability to fully customize the bottles and offer wholesale orders. You can personalize colors, logos, and visual text to match your brand.
Visit Jars Bottles and browse through our products to purchase bulk orders.
