Types of Plastic: A Complete Guide for Business Owners

Seven out of ten Indonesian consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly packaging (Indonesia Ministry of Industry data, 2023). This is the time for businesses to shift. Amid the need for efficient operations and customer pressure on environmental issues, understanding the main types of plastic is not optional — it is a survival strategy. This article explains the seven primary plastic types that can help your business save cost, improve consumer perception, and reduce environmental impact.

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Plastic Type

Relative Cost

Durability

Recycling

Main Application

PETE/PET

Medium

High

Very Easy

Beverage Packaging

HDPE

Medium-High

Very High

Easy

Industrial Containers

PVC

High

Very High

Difficult

Construction

LDPE

Low

Medium

Medium

Flexible Packaging

PP

Medium

High

Easy

Food Containers

PS

Low

Low

Difficult

Disposable Items

OTHER

Varies

Varies

Very Difficult

Special Applications

Why Is It Important to Understand Plastic Types?

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As a business owner, understanding plastic types can help you:

• Optimize product packaging costs
• Meet safety and regulatory standards
• Support recycling initiatives
• Improve satisfaction among environmentally conscious customers

For food packaging applications in particular, see the plastic cup material guide covering PET, PP, and PS from the perspective of beverage-business operations.

7 Main Types of Plastic

Property

PETE

HDPE

PVC

LDPE

PP

Maximum Temperature (°C)

70

120

80

80

140

Clarity

High

Medium

High

Medium

Low

Impact Strength

Good

Very Good

Good

Medium

Very Good

O2 Barrier

Very Good

Good

Good

Medium

Medium

Chemical Resistance

Good

Very Good

Very Good

Good

Very Good

1. PETE or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Characteristics:

• Transparent and lightweight
• Impact resistant
• Easy to recycle
• Good barrier against gas and moisture

Business Applications:

• Beverage packaging
• Disposable food containers
• Cosmetic packaging
• Textile fibers

2. HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

Characteristics:

• Strong and chemical resistant
• Resistant to high temperatures
• Easy to recycle
• Not transparent

Business Applications:

• Cleaning-product bottles
• Shopping bags
• Cosmetic containers
• Household-care product packaging

3. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Characteristics:

• Durable
• Flexible
• Chemical resistant
• Difficult to recycle

Business Applications:

• Pipes
• Building materials
• Non-food packaging
• Construction materials

4. LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)

Characteristics:

• Flexible and soft
• Water resistant
• Easy to process
• Low production cost

Business Applications:

• Plastic bags
• Food wrapping
• Plastic film
• Packaging lids

5. PP (Polypropylene)

Characteristics:

• Heat resistant up to 100-140°C, depending on grade
• Strong and lightweight — density 0.905 g/cm³
• Good moisture barrier
• Chemical resistant

Business Applications:

• Microwaveable food containers
• Hot beverage plastic cups — food-grade resin code #5
• Hot food packaging
• Medical equipment
• Automotive components

6. PS (Polystyrene)

Characteristics:

• Rigid or foamed
• Easy to form
• Good insulator
• Relatively inexpensive

Business Applications:

• Disposable food containers
• Electronics packaging
• Insulation material
• Disposable tableware

7. OTHER

Characteristics:

• Varies by type
• Usually a combination of several plastics
• Difficult to recycle
• Special applications

Business Applications:

• Specialty packaging
• Technical products
• Medical applications
• Industrial equipment

Tips for Choosing Plastic for Your Business

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Key Considerations

1. Product Safety

• Ensure regulatory conformity
• Pay attention to interaction with the product
• Consider shelf life

1. Cost

• Calculate cost per unit
• Consider minimum order quantity
• Evaluate transport and storage costs

1. Environmental Friendliness

• Choose recyclable materials
• Consider carbon footprint
• Align with consumer expectations

Recommendations by Business Type

Industry

Main Recommendation

Alternative

Special Consideration

F&B

PETE, PP

HDPE

Food-grade, Temperature Resistance

Retail

LDPE, HDPE

PP

Cost, Flexibility

Manufacturing

PP, HDPE

PVC

Durability, Technical Standards

Cosmetics

PETE, PP

HDPE

Aesthetics, Barrier Properties

Pharmaceutical

PP, HDPE

PETE

Sterilization, Regulation

Food and Beverage Businesses:

• PETE for beverage packaging
• PP for hot food and drinks
• HDPE for sauces and condiments

Retail:

• LDPE for shopping bags
• HDPE for product packaging
• PP for product displays

Manufacturing:

• PVC for technical components
• PP for parts and components
• HDPE for industrial packaging

Choosing the right plastic type can become a differentiating factor in business success. By understanding the characteristics and applications of each type, you can make better decisions for environmentally responsible operations.

For a deeper PP vs PET vs PS comparison in beverage-cup context, read plastic cup material comparison and PP plastic for cups.

How Do You Read the Recycling Code on the Bottom of Plastic Packaging?

Every plastic package produced in Indonesia generally shows a triangle-arrow code with a number from 1-7 on the base. This code is called the Resin Identification Code (RIC), first issued by the Society of the Plastics Industry in 1988 and now adopted as ASTM D7611. Its purpose is to help waste sorters and recycling facilities identify resin type without laboratory testing.

For F&B businesses, RIC #1 (PET) and #5 (PP) are the two codes you will most often encounter — and both are among the easiest to enter recycling streams in Indonesia. Wingoh's food-grade PP plastic cups, produced since 1992, use code #5 with a single-material design, making them easier to recycle than multi-layer coated cups. Avoid using #7 (OTHER) plastics for direct food-contact products because this category includes polymer blends whose composition is difficult to trace.

What Food-Safety Certifications Must a Plastic Supplier Have?

Three certifications are industry standards for food packaging in Indonesia: BPOM for food-contact product authorization, FSSC 22000 for global food-safety management systems, and ISO 9001 for production quality management. Wingoh holds all three — FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001 are supplier-entry requirements for major F&B chains and export to Australia.

When choosing a plastic supplier for your product, request a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for each production batch stating resin composition, overall migration content, and food-contact test results. This is not only about compliance — a supplier that is transparent with documentation has a production chain that can be audited backward if there is an end-customer complaint.

For more information on plastic codes and regulations, visit ASTM International's official guide to the Resin Identification Code.