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01-01-2022, 07:41 PM
Anne-Marie Lim
01 Jan 2022 06:15AM
(Updated: 01 Jan 2022 11:21AM)
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Disposable food containers are generally made of plastic resins mixed with some additives, said Leung. Additives are chemical substances that could improve the performance of the plastic by, for example, making it more flexible, or improve its physical appearance.
“Some of these additives are added if the disposable box is designed to hold high-temperature food,” added the senior lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences.
As for the container’s main ingredient, the resin identification code at the bottom of some containers — in the middle of the recycling logo — lets you know what type of plastic it is. Here is what the numbers mean:
Code 1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Code 2: High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Code 3: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Code 4: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Code 5: Polypropylene (PP)
Code 6: Polystyrene (PS)
Code 7: Polycarbonate (PC) and other plastics
......
Consumers should choose the correct plastic for their intended use, and this applies to reusable containers too
......
“If your container is (going to be) consistently heated, you might want to look at a heat-resistant, reusable plastic container,” he said. Polypropylene (Code 5), for example, is the most suitable for microwaving because of its resistance to heat.
There are also containers designed to be put in the fridge and freezer, such as high-density polyethylene (Code 2).
......
Containers that are safe for the microwave would feature the label but may also include instructions to remove the cover first.
......
Although the labels indicate the same code, the plastic formulations could be very different, said Leung, as reusable containers are designed to “resist certain physical cleaning”.
“The manufacturer could have added some acid resistance, some oil resistance as well,” he noted. “For the disposable (container), the manufacturer … might not add in too many of these additional functions”.
Much better to read the full article at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insi...od-2392821
01 Jan 2022 06:15AM
(Updated: 01 Jan 2022 11:21AM)
......
Disposable food containers are generally made of plastic resins mixed with some additives, said Leung. Additives are chemical substances that could improve the performance of the plastic by, for example, making it more flexible, or improve its physical appearance.
“Some of these additives are added if the disposable box is designed to hold high-temperature food,” added the senior lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Chemical and Life Sciences.
As for the container’s main ingredient, the resin identification code at the bottom of some containers — in the middle of the recycling logo — lets you know what type of plastic it is. Here is what the numbers mean:
Code 1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Code 2: High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Code 3: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Code 4: Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Code 5: Polypropylene (PP)
Code 6: Polystyrene (PS)
Code 7: Polycarbonate (PC) and other plastics
......
Consumers should choose the correct plastic for their intended use, and this applies to reusable containers too
......
“If your container is (going to be) consistently heated, you might want to look at a heat-resistant, reusable plastic container,” he said. Polypropylene (Code 5), for example, is the most suitable for microwaving because of its resistance to heat.
There are also containers designed to be put in the fridge and freezer, such as high-density polyethylene (Code 2).
......
Containers that are safe for the microwave would feature the label but may also include instructions to remove the cover first.
......
Although the labels indicate the same code, the plastic formulations could be very different, said Leung, as reusable containers are designed to “resist certain physical cleaning”.
“The manufacturer could have added some acid resistance, some oil resistance as well,” he noted. “For the disposable (container), the manufacturer … might not add in too many of these additional functions”.
Much better to read the full article at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-insi...od-2392821
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