Subtopic 3: Types of plastic – which are safe and which to avoid?

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Plastics may look inert, but the chemicals in them are not, as they are not tightly bound to the material, which means they are easily flushed out, especially when exposed to heat. The two most concerning types of chemicals in plastics are phthalates and bisphenols, usually added to plastics to make them flexible and soft (New York Times, source). Are there any types of plastic that are safe for human health and environmentally friendly?

We use the word plastic to refer to dozens of different types of plastic. They can be classified based on various criteria, including chemical structure, properties, intended use, recycling potential or harmfulness to the environment and human health. In general, there are seven main types of plastic (source).

1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate) – it is the undisputed king of plastic, a material that can be used almost everywhere. It is used in the production of food and drink packaging because it is lightweight and well protects against oxygen ingress. Even though PET is approved for contact with food, it is not completely safe for health. Studies have shown that PET plastic releases micronutrients that disrupt human endocrine and release potentially carcinogenic ammonium (source).

2 – HDPE (high density polyethylene) – is one of the safest types of plastic, used primarily to produce children’s toys, milk bottles, food containers or cling film. It is denser, stronger and thicker than PET, and the packaging made of it is recyclable (source).

3 – PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – due to its very high toxicity, the use of PVC in the food industry has been limited to a minimum. It is most often used for the production of building elements such as pipes, windows, cable insulation, detergent packaging and medical accessories (source).

4 – LDPE (low density polyethylene) – is cheap and easy to process and relatively safe for health, although less than HDPE. It is most often used in the food and medical industries. It is used to produce sacks, bags, foil packaging, cups for hot and cold drinks, lids for containers and squeezable bottles such as ketchup (source).

5 – PP (polypropylene) – is considered the safest for the human body. It is also quite stiff and resistant to high temperatures, which makes it perfect for the catering industry. It is most often used in the production of food and drink packaging, bottle caps, containers for contact lenses and hygiene products (source).

6 – PS (polystyrene) – is used to produce imitation jewellery, lamp shades or household appliances, but most often polystyrene is made of it and is used especially in the construction industry. PS plastic is toxic and should not encounter food, especially with warm and acidic substances. In addition, this type of plastic is very harmful to the environment, because it tends to break down into small balls that spread easily and end up in rivers, seas and oceans, where they float as microplastic (source).

7 – OTHER (other plastics) – also marked with the letter O. This group includes everything that does not fit into the other categories. There are both plastics that are dangerous in contact with food, containing bisphenol A, and safe for health, BPA-free Tritan (source).

Although the production of plastic itself puts a heavy burden on the environment, it is a myth to say that all types of plastic are bad. Some plastics such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), High-Density Polyethylene (2-HDPE), and Polypropylene (5-PP), in addition to making our lives easier, are harmless to our bodies and can be reused many times, thanks to which they help reduce the consumption and production of the most harmful plastics and those that cannot be recycled (source).