Bottles were first commercially produced in 1947 but became quickly popular in 1960s with the introduction of high-density

polyethylene. They are typically used to store liquids, such as

water, soft drinks, motor oil, cooking oil, medicine, shampoo, milk, and ink.
Case Study: Advantages
Disadvantages
 Lightweight nature
Plastic Bottles  Relatively low production and transportation costs (compared to glass bottles)
 Toxicity problems for some qualities
 Pollution if not discarded properly
 Superior resistance to breakage in both production and transportation

Polyet hyle ne Terephthalate ( PET, PET E or   polyester )

o Very good alcohol & essential oil barrier Recycling:
Common usage: o Safe for one-time use - repeated use poses risk
properties
o Bottles for water, cooking oil, peanut of leaching & bacterial growth.
o Good chemical resistance (although
butter, soda, carbonated beverage . o Recycled material is of lower quality than the
acetones & ketones will attack PET).
o High degree of impact resistance and original PET, until it can no longer be recycled
Qualities:  and becomes landfill waste.
tensile strength. o 29% is recycled into: polyester fiber for fleece
o Maximum temperature applications 93 °C o Thin, clear
clothing, fabric, carpet or plastic lumber.
Hi g h De nsi ty Polyet hyl ene (H D PE )
o Economic Common usage: Recycling:
o Impact resistant o Milk and water jugs o 29% recycled into bottles for non-food items
o Good moisture barrier compatible with a wide o Juice bottles like shampoo, laundry detergent, motor oil;
o Containers for detergent, shampoo plastic lumber and furniture, piping, recycling
range of products (including acids and caustics , bins, fencing etc.
but not solvents). and motor oil o Post Consumer Resin (PCR) is a blend of HDPE
o Naturally translucent and flexible (primarily from milk and water containers) and
o FDA-approved food grade Qualities:  virgin resin.
o Application temperature <71 °C o Thick, opaque

Poly vinyl Chlor i de

(PVC) o Naturally clear Common usage: Recycling:
o Extremely good resistance to oils, very low o Few types of food, detergent o Very low recycling rate -it contaminates the
oxygen transmission, excellent barrier to containers, mattress covers and recycling stream
most gases. commercial-grade plastic wrap o Recycled PVC can become packaging, binders,
o Very good drop impact resistance, chemically decking, paneling, insulation, mud flaps, film
resistant but vulnerable to some solvents. Qualities:  and sheet, flooring, garden hoses.
o Poor resistance to high temperatures >71 °C. o May be rigid or flexible (may contain o manufacture of PVC creates dioxin, a potent
phthalates to soften it) carcinogen that contaminates environment.
• Only 10% of the cost of bottled water goes
to the actual water -90% goes to the
Low Dens i ty Polyet hyle ne ( LD PE ) packaging, transportation and marketing
Common usage: Recycling:
o Similar to HDPE in composition, but o Squeezable bottles (and grocery store o Low recycling rate-Difficult to recycle.
less rigid, less chemically resistant but o Can be made into compost bins, paneling, • At least 40% of bottled water is tap water
bags, plastic wrap for household use,
more translucent.
garbage bags) plastic lumber.
o Primarily used for squeeze • 66% of energy is saved when producing
applications. new plastic products from recycled materials
o Significantly more expensive than Qualities:  instead of raw (virgin) materials.
HDPE. o  Soft, flexible

Pol ypropyl ene (PP)

o Stable at high temperatures, up to Common usage:
Recycling:
104 °C o Syrup bottles, ice cream and yogurt o Low recycling rate (often pigmented or mixed
o Autoclavable, potential for steam containers, drinking straws, salad bar with other resins)
sterilization, containers and diapers
o Excellent chemical resistance
o Poor resistance in cold temperatures. Qualities: 
o  Hard but flexible

Pol ystyrene (PS)

o Offers excellent clarity and stiffness at Common usage: Recycling:
an economical cost . o  Styrofoam coffee cups and meat o Very low recycling rate, difficult process
o Used with dry products including trays; opaque plastic spoons and forks o PS can leach styrene, a known neurotoxin with
vitamins, petroleum jellies, and spices. other harmful health effects.
Qualities: 
o Not good barrier properties, and poor o  Rigid
impact resistance.

F luori ne Treated (H D PE ) Common usage:

o Bottles are exposed to fluorine gas in o  Bottles for insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, photographic chemicals, agricultural chemicals,
a secondary operation. household and industrial cleaners, electronic chemicals, medical cleaners and solvents, citrus
o Similar in appearance to HDPE and products, d-limonene, flavors, fragrances, essential oils, surfactants, polishes, additives, graffiti
have exceptional barrier properties cleaning products, stone and tile care products, waxes, paint,
to hydrocarbons and aromatic gasoline, biodiesel, xylene, acetone, kerosene and more.
solvents.
Qualities: 
o     Thin, clear

Pol ycar bonate ( PC)

o Dangerous plastic in the food Common usage: Recycling:
production , releases BPA chemicals. o five-gallon water bottles, sports o Very low
bottles recycling rate
Qualities: 
o    May be rigid or flexible
References:
Bottled Water Facts, www.yorku.ca/sustainability
Peter Anderson, Message in a Bottle: The Impacts of PVC on Plastics Recycling, 2004.
Plastics – the Facts 2014/2015, An analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data, Plastics Europe.
Facts on Plastic Bottles and Bottled Water -Sources: Environmental Working Group, National Resources Defense Council, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Project Aware, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, U.S. National Highway
Transportation Board
http://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/store/common_plastics_no_1_to_no_7#.V6yCntSLRkp
http://www.healthychild.org/know-your-plastics/
https://www.ebottles.com/resins.htm
http://www.greenerpackage.com/bottles/plastic_bottles_and_closures_market_trends_europe