Safe Use of Plastic Food Packaging

Plastics are used in the manufacture of a wide range of food packaging and containers. Food packaging keeps food safe from contamination and from damage during distribution while providing fresh food for consumers. Plastic containers such as cups, plates, bowls and bottles offer a range of lightweight and unbreakable kitchenware for our daily household use. The diversity of properties of plastics allows them to perform many of the necessary tasks.

Plastics are made from long chain polymers and each polymer is composed of small building units called monomers that are chemically linked together. Different combinations of monomers yield polymers with different properties and characteristics. In addition, plastic additives are incorporated into polymers during the manufacturing process to confer specific properties to the polymer for certain packaging applications. For example, the introduction of nucleating agents improves the clarity and stiffness of a plastic polymer which allows it to be used for making rigid and clear containers that show-off the contents and appeal to consumers.