The Packaging Rap
SKS Bottle & Packaging Newsletter
Selecting a Plastic Container
July 2014
There are several things you should take into consideration when choosing the most suitable plastic packaging material for your product. Factors range from the container's color, shape and size to the plastic's ability to maintain its integrity under certain conditions such as extreme heat, cold or chemical exposure. Listed below are some of plastic materials offered and their individual characteristics, to help you determine the best material for your product. Each product is unique, so be sure to test your product with the packaging, this is the only way to truly know if it is the best packaging choice for your product.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene Terephthalate otherwise known as PET is a plastic polymer resin used to make products in a variety of industries. PET offers endless advantages; it's lightweight, shatter resistant, sustainable, BPA free, has high clarity, and is 100% recyclable. PET also has excellent moisture and water resistance, which makes it a great option for packaging both food and non-food products. Safely package products like sauces or salad dressings in containers like SKS'5 oz or 10 oz clear PET sauce bottles.
High Density Polyethylene
High Density Polyethylene known as HDPE, is a higher density version of PE plastic. It is harder, stronger, and heavier than LDPE and PE. HDPE plastic has good resistance to chemicals and moisture which is why it is commonly used to package many household and industrial cleaning products. SKS offers many containers, such asHDPE Jugs, which could be used to safely package cleaning products. HDPE is also a popular choice for food packaging and is commonly used for packaging milk and non-carbonated beverages and can be found in snack food packaging and as the liner in cereal boxes.
Low Density Polyethylene
Low Density Polyethylene known as LDPE is a low density version of PE. LDPE is one of the most flexible plastics making it ideal for containers such assqueeze bottles. Characteristics of LDPE include a good resistance to chemicals, light weight, excellent moisture barrier, and excellent resistance to cold temperature and impact.
Post Consumer Resin
SKS offers PCR containers (Post Consumer Resin) as a sustainable solution for environmentally friendly packaging. Up to 100% of PCR packaging can be made from recycled PET. A perfect example of this would be SKS' black PCR jars.. These black straight sided jars with various caps are made from up to 100% post-consumer recycled material! Meaning, when you recycled your soda bottle, for example, it was cleaned, ground and re-compounded into pellets, from there it was molded into another PET product, like SKS' black cosmetic jars! PCR is comparable to PET, offering a similar appearance and durability. PCR plastic containers are commonly used in the Cosmetic and Bath & Body industries to package ecologically conscious products.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene, or PS, is a clear, rigid, and light weight plastic polymer that is a good alternative to glass. It has poor impact and cold resistance. PS is often found in the cosmetic industry. SKS' offers variousPolystyrene jarsthat could be used to as packaging for powders, eye shadows, and many other products. PS is also used for CD packaging, cups, plates, and cutlery.
Want more information? SKS offers several guides that may help you determine which container or material may be best for your product. We offer guides on topics such as Selecting a Plastic Container , Container Styles Guide , Neck Finish, and many others which can be found on our Help/Info page.