EVERYTHING ABOUT THE PLASTIC FOOD PACKAGING

Plastics are used to pack a variety of products used in our daily lives. It is a versatile material whose components are carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, the essential elements of the periodic table. Because of the transparency and durability of the plastics, they are used in safety glasses and eye goggles. Plastics are also robust and lightweight, which permit us to transport various products with less packaging. 

No one likes to compromise with the quality and safety of their food, and most people choose plastics for their food protection and food packaging. The reason is plastics are trusted for the packaging of the medical equipment, and they are bacteria-resistant for the use of food packaging. Plastic food packaging suppliers deliver such plastics that provide food safety protects the food from any damage and maintains the nutritional value of the food.

PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR FOOD PACKAGING

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approves all the plastic materials currently in use for the packaging of food materials. Different plastics for various food packaging are the following:

1. POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET): PET is recyclable plastic. It is used for the packaging and protection of most of the foods and liquids like soft drinks, ketchup, salad dressing, sports drinks, single-serve water, vegetable oil bottles, vitamins, and peanut butter containers. PET is a lightweight material that is produced to be semi-rigid or rigid, which makes it more shock resistant.
2. HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE): HDPE is a lightweight but strong plastic. This hard and opaque plastic is enough to contain a gallon of milk. This material is used for grocery bags. Also, it is used in the food packaging of juice, milk jugs, vinegar bottles, squeeze butter, and chocolate syrup containers. HDPE is also recyclable.
3. LOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LDPE): LDPE is a high heat resilience material. Because of the toughness and flexibility of this plastic it is used in rigid applications and those applications where heat sealing is required. LDPE is routinely used in the making of bread bags, coffee can lid, six-pack soda can lid and fruits or vegetable bags.
4. POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC): The key element of PVC is chlorine. PVC is a resistant material biologically and chemically, which preserves the integrity of the products, especially medicines. PVC is used as a shrink wrap for a variety of products. It is reliable for the packaging of medications, as well. Blister packaging (with plastic cavity or pocket), like the packaging of gums and breath mints, are also done through the PVC. 
5. POLYPROPYLENE (PP): The high melting point of PP makes it appropriate and worthy of the food packaging items used in microwaves or washed with dishwashers. It is stiff and less brittle plastic. PP is regularly used in food packaging to make prescription drug bottles and many containers like maple syrup containers, yogurt containers, cream cheese containers, and sour cream containers.
6. POLYSTYRENE (PS): When PS is manufactured, it could be made into a foam, cast, or into a mold. This unique plastic is given different shapes, like a spoon or a fork. It is used to make the bakery and deli trays, plastic cups, hot cups, egg cartons, as well as fast food containers and lids.
7. BIOPLASTIC POLYLACTIDE (PLA): PLA is used to make citrus juice and plastic bottles, cups, coffee lids, clamshell containers, and water cooler five-gallon jugs.