While many people worry about plastics and their effect on the environment, it might be interesting to know that many plastics manufacturers are also highly concerned about the environment and have take steps to create products that are as sustainable as possible.
The creation of plastic packaging is often known as thermoforming, which is when large sheets of thin plastic are heated and molded into a specific shape and then trimmed and cooled. The type of plastic used for this process is called thermoplastic, and the components used to create these plastic sheets include a variety of different kinds of polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and more.
The thermoplastics industry has different terms regarding the types of plastic products that are created. A bio-based product, for example, is composed of biological products, forestry materials or renewable agriculture materials such as plant, animal and marine sources. Another common term is a biomass product, and this is sourced from plants that are renewable, such as grasses, algae or trees.
When a plastic is labeled as biodegradable, this means that when naturally-occurring bacteria, fungi or algae are added, the plastic will undergo biodegradation. This type of plastic is made from a variety of materials, from polyvinyl alcohol to plastics made with cellulose esters or starch derivatives. Yet another term regarding sustainability is bioplastics, which indicates that the item is comprised of bio-based materials or is biodegradable or perhaps both.
Some plastic is biodegradable and some is compostable, and there is definitely a difference. Something can biodegrade and reduce, but not become compost and that is a biodegradable plastic. A compostable plastic does biodegrade in about 180 days to the point where there is no detectable toxic remains present. Using these types of plastics is just one way thermoplastics companies meet sustainability guidelines. These firms also try to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced by reducing the amount of excess plastic that results from trimming the sheet to form a product.
Reusing is an important component of the recycle, reuse and renew mantra, and plastics companies also create packaging and products using post-consumer or pre-consumer materials. These items with recycled content include items used by the public, such as a water bottle or pre-consumer plastics, such as the trimmed-off material from the factory.
The creation of plastic packaging is often known as thermoforming, which is when large sheets of thin plastic are heated and molded into a specific shape and then trimmed and cooled. The type of plastic used for this process is called thermoplastic, and the components used to create these plastic sheets include a variety of different kinds of polymers, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and more.
The thermoplastics industry has different terms regarding the types of plastic products that are created. A bio-based product, for example, is composed of biological products, forestry materials or renewable agriculture materials such as plant, animal and marine sources. Another common term is a biomass product, and this is sourced from plants that are renewable, such as grasses, algae or trees.
When a plastic is labeled as biodegradable, this means that when naturally-occurring bacteria, fungi or algae are added, the plastic will undergo biodegradation. This type of plastic is made from a variety of materials, from polyvinyl alcohol to plastics made with cellulose esters or starch derivatives. Yet another term regarding sustainability is bioplastics, which indicates that the item is comprised of bio-based materials or is biodegradable or perhaps both.
Some plastic is biodegradable and some is compostable, and there is definitely a difference. Something can biodegrade and reduce, but not become compost and that is a biodegradable plastic. A compostable plastic does biodegrade in about 180 days to the point where there is no detectable toxic remains present. Using these types of plastics is just one way thermoplastics companies meet sustainability guidelines. These firms also try to reduce the amount of plastic waste produced by reducing the amount of excess plastic that results from trimming the sheet to form a product.
Reusing is an important component of the recycle, reuse and renew mantra, and plastics companies also create packaging and products using post-consumer or pre-consumer materials. These items with recycled content include items used by the public, such as a water bottle or pre-consumer plastics, such as the trimmed-off material from the factory.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. For more information about custom product packaging or to find out more about blister packaging, please visit the Indepak.com website now.
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