Explore the meaning of the symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles

Plastic is everywhere. Look around at home, how many plastic products are there around you that you can notice? From food containers and household utensils to bags, children’s toys, shower curtains, cosmetic packaging and water bottles, plastic has become an indispensable tool in daily life, especially in terms of safety, which has been alarming.

News about plastics has been a constant concern for public safety. Some plastics are environmentally friendly and may be safe for children, while others contain harmful chemicals and cause dangerous pollution during the manufacturing process. People are told to recycle plastic bottles and containers, but what impact will it actually have on plastics if we throw them away?

To understand where these bottles end up, it is important to explore their origins. The plastic in them is formed by chemically bonding together oil and gas molecules to make monomers. These monomers are in turn bonded into long polymer chains to make millions of pellets of plastic.

These pellets are melted in manufacturing plants and then re-molded into molds to create elastic materials. Machines fill the bottles, which are then packaged, shipped, purchased, opened, consumed and unceremoniously thrown away. As if by magic, the bottles are ready to be reborn as something completely new.

Avoiding plastics is impossible in this modern age, but you can look for plastics that are safer for your family and the environment. In an effort to be healthier, many of us have stressed the importance of carrying a water bottle with us. People buy bottled water for a variety of reasons. Convenience, fashion, taste, and more. But do you know how many bottles of water are safe for you?

What do plastic recycling symbols mean?

Have you ever thought about the logos with numbers or recycling symbols on the bottom of plastic bottles and containers? You should. They tell you what type of plastic the product is made of. This is key to becoming a better recycler because not all plastics are created equal. So the more you know about plastics, the safer you can make them for your family and the environment.

Some are safer than others, while all plastics should be limited as much as possible. It’s time to learn more about the different types of plastics you use, drink, or eat every day, and what effects they have on not only you, your family, but the environment as well.