Plastic Packaging Resin Identification Codes

Have you ever wondered about those little numbers with arrows around them, on the bottom of plastic containers? They are called resin identification codes (RIC), created in 1988, through the Society of the Plastic Industry, Inc., and they indicate the type of plastic that an item is made from. These numbers are intended to help consumers and recyclers know whether and how to recycle various plastic products and packages. At the same time, provides a unified standard for manufacturers.
Plastic is an irreplaceable material, especially it is a material closely related to our life. Error using the RIC will have serious consequences, not only may endanger the integrity of some manufacturers’ code system, will also become a threat to the consumer’s choice and health. Therefore, it is very important to use the RIC correctly.
While the resin code has its origins primarily in recycling, it also serves as sort of a primer for recognizing the most common plastic packaging: 1) polyethylene terephthalate, 2) high density polyethylene, 3) polyvinyl chloride, 4) low density polyethylene, 5) polypropylene, 6) polystyrene and 7) other. The resins often are identified by their acronyms: 1) PET, 2) HDPE, 3) PVC, 4) LDPE, 5) PP, 6) PS and 7) other. Article source: http://www.jinbangpacking.com/Plastic-Packaging-Resin-Identification-Code.html