Plastic food containers come in various shapes and sizes, either reusable or single-use. The best examples of plastic food containers are plastic cups, plastic bottles, plastic bags, foam food containers.

Types of Plastics Used as Food Containers

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET, is a ubiquitous type of plastic used to store soft drinks, and it is used to make single-use water bottles, food-grade containers, and bakery trays. PET is not affected by food contact, which is why it is ideal for food storage.

Crystallizable Polyethylene Terephthalate (CPET)

CPET has gone through a process that allows it to resist cracking when it experiences low temperatures, which is a setback for average PET plastic containers. CPET is highly flexible and can endure higher temperatures hence why CPET produces plastic food trays that are used with conventional ovens, oven-proof plastic wraps, microwavable dinners, and storage containers. CPET plastic containers are used for packaging or storing ready-to-eat meals.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is food-safe plastic used during production processes that require a lot of heat. Polypropylene can be found in products used as prescription bottles or garden tools. It is a stiff kind of plastic, but it is not brittle as compared to the other kinds of food container plastics. Food items that use polypropylene for storage are yogurts, cream cheese, or sour cream containers. Polypropylene is highly used in microwavable containers because it has a high melting point and can tolerate high heat.