Plastics – Resin Codes. What do they mean?

Posted on 30th January 2018

As part of our short article series on plastic, we have so far looked at the basics of what each recycling symbol means. However, within this article, we have decided to take it one step further and delve deeper into resin codes and explain what each label means.

What is a Resin Code?

Resin codes originated from the Society of the Plastics Industry back in 1988. However, they were only administered in 2008 through the ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System (RIC). From this, resin codes have been placed on almost every piece of plastic which will continue for the foreseeable future.

What’s The Purpose?

A plastic resin code, or ‘Resin Identification Code’, shows the consumer which type of plastic resin was used to make the chosen product, whether that be a plastic bottle, container or jug. The resin is usually defined between 1-7, and the relevant number will appear in the centre of the arrows on the label that is placed on the product.

What Do They Mean?

Within the UK, codes 1 and 2 can usually be recycled. However, resin code 3 is not typically collected from households and is in decline. With the introduction of the plastic bag tax, resin code 4 now means that plastic bags can be given back to supermarkets for reuse. Finally, resin code 5 and 6 are usually now recycled whereas resin 7 is usually not.

Here is some more information on which polymers each resin coder relates to, and what they are commonly used in:

Abbreviation and Polymer Name

Resin Code	Abbreviation and Polymer Name	Uses
1	PETE: Polyethylene Terephthalate	Polyester fibres, or Polar Fleece Thermoformed sheet Strapping Soft drink bottles Tote bags Furniture Carpet Panelling Occasionally, new containers
2	HDPE: High-density Polyethylene	Bottles Grocery bags Milk jugs Recycling bins Agricultural pipe Base cups Car stops Playground equipment Plastic lumber
3	PVC: Polyvinyl Chloride	Pipe Window profile Siding Fencing Flooring Shower curtains Lawn chairs Non-food bottles Children’s toys
4	LDPE: Low-density Polyethylene	Plastic bags Six pack rings Various containers Dispensing bottles Wash bottles Tubing Various moulded laboratory equipment
5	PP: Polypropylene	Auto parts Industrial fibres Food containers Dishware
6	PS: Polystyrene	Desk accessories Cafeteria trays Plastic utensils Toys Video cassettes and cases Clamshell containers Packaging peanuts, insulation board and other expanded polystyrene products (e.g. styrofoam)
7	OTHER or O: Other Plastics	Acrylic Nylon Polycarbonate, and polylactic acid (a bioplastic) Multilayer combinations of different plastics