Plastic Packaging

Plastic Packaging

Due to its light weight, durability and low cost of production, plastics make up the majority, 53%, of all packaged goods, which are materials used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods. Plastics are used to package all sorts of food products, pet food, consumer products, promotional and retail products and are commonly used by the medical, food and consumer good industries. They are used in primary packaging, which is the wrapping or container handled by the consumer, secondary packaging, which are larger cases or boxes used to group quantities of goods for delivery, and transit packaging, which is used to group products into larger loads for transport, loading and unloading. Most containers are made through plastic injection molding, and plastic films such as shrink wrap are applied using heat near the end of a product assembly line.

There are 6 main types of plastic resins used for packaging, all of which are recyclable. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is used to make clear food jars and beverage bottles. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is stiff and can withstand different temperatures. It is used to make bottles for cosmetics, shipping containers and cereal box liners. Shrink wrap, medical blood bags and rigid packaging such as clamshells are made with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is tough, transparent and has a good resistance to acids, bases and oils. It produces bags for dry cleaning, garbage bags, and squeezable bottles. Polypropylene (PP) makes medicine bottles, yogurt containers and takeout meal boxes. Finally, Polystyrene (PS), a plastic that can be rigid or foamed, produces protective foam packaging for breakable products, egg cartons, and CD cases.

Plastic Packaging Images Provided by CJK Thermoforming Solutions