What do the numbers on plastic packaging products represent?

Therefore, when using plastic products, it is important to pay attention to the numbers at the bottom! Some incorrect usage methods must be corrected! And what do the seven numbers 1 to 7 commonly seen on plastic products represent?

Let's delve into the secrets hidden behind these numbers in detail below!

1、 Number 1- PET plastic

The item numbered 1 in plastic products is made of PET plastic, and the raw material of PET plastic is polyethylene terephthalate. The packaging bottles for mineral water and carbonated beverages that we usually purchase on the market are made of this type of plastic!

The packaging bottles made of this material are heat-resistant up to 70 ℃ and are only suitable for storing beverages at lower or normal temperatures. This is because plastic bottles made of this material can easily deform when exposed to high temperatures, releasing toxic and harmful substances that pose a huge threat to human health!

And this type of plastic bottle cannot be stored or used for a long time, because scientists have found that after PET plastic products are made and used or stored for more than ten months, they are highly likely to release carcinogens and have great toxicity to the human body. Therefore, for plastic products with the number 1, it is best to throw them away after use and not reuse them to avoid health problems!

2、 Number 2- HDPE plastic

The number 2 represents HDPE plastic (high-density polyethylene), which is often used to manufacture packaging containers for bath products. Plastic bags in supermarkets are also made of this material, which has excellent high temperature resistance. It is only after reaching 110 ℃ that harmful substances may dissolve!

In addition, many plastic bags for food are also made of this material, and plastic containers made of this material can be reused. However, cleaning these containers is very troublesome and can easily result in residue, so it is not recommended to recycle them!

3、 Number 3- PVC plastic

PVC plastic, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is commonly referred to as toxic plastic. However, this type of plastic product is not suitable for making food and beverage containers because when exposed to high temperatures, it will dissolve a large amount of toxic and harmful substances, which can easily increase people's chances of developing cancer!

There are two sources of toxins in this type of plastic: one is single-molecule vinyl chloride that is not fully polymerized during the production process, and the other is harmful substances in plasticizers! And both of these substances are not resistant to high temperatures, so tableware made of this plastic is what we often call carcinogenic plastic tableware. Be sure to pay attention to it in daily life!

4、 Number 4- LDPE plastic

LDPE plastic is made of low-density polyethylene. The plastic wrap and plastic film that we often use in our daily lives are made of this material. This type of plastic has weak heating properties. Generally, qualified plastic films on the market will experience hot melting after being heated, leaving behind many plastic preparations that cannot be decomposed by the human body.

However, many people overlook this situation in their daily lives. They cover food with plastic film or cling film and heat it in a microwave. However, harmful substances in these plastic films can easily penetrate into the food at high temperatures. Therefore, when heating food in daily life, it is necessary to remove these plastic films!

In addition, there are some cling films that are not made of LDPE plastic and often contain harmful substances. Therefore, when choosing cling films in daily life, it is important to carefully read the number on top of the cling film in order to effectively protect health and reduce the risk of physical damage!

5、 Number 5- PP Plastic

PP plastic is made of polypropylene, which has excellent high temperature resistance up to 130 ℃. It is the only plastic product that can be heated in a microwave oven and can be reused after cleaning. Most microwave food boxes in daily life are made of this plastic!

However, one thing to note is that the body of some microwave lunch boxes is made of PP plastic of size 5, but the lid is indeed made of PS plastic of size 6, which cannot be heated in a microwave. Therefore, it is best to remove the lid when heating in daily life to effectively prevent toxic and harmful substances from dissolving in plastic lunch boxes!

6、 Number 6- PS Plastic

PS plastic is made of polystyrene. Common bowl shaped instant noodle boxes, foam fast food boxes, and so on in daily life are all made of this material. This material is both heat-resistant and cold resistant, but one thing is very important, which is that it cannot be placed in a microwave oven because this plastic will release a large amount of chemicals in the microwave oven!

In addition, strong acid and alkali foods should not be stored because these two types of foods can cause polystyrene to decompose from the food box, leading to damage to human health. Therefore, in daily life, it is advisable to avoid packaging these foods in fast food boxes to prevent harm to the body!

7、 Number 7- PC and other types

PC is a widely used material, commonly used in baby bottles and space cups in daily life. However, it has been controversial due to the presence of bisphenol A in this material. However, experts point out that theoretically, if bisphenol A can be 100% converted into plastic, it means that there is no bisphenol A in the finished product. But if a small amount of bisphenol A is not converted into plastic structure, it will release harmful substances to the body at high temperatures!

Therefore, when using this type of plastic in daily life, one must be careful, otherwise it can easily cause damage to the body!