When it comes to custom thermoforming, the team at Indepak uses a wide variety of different thermoplastics. Polypropylene, also known simply as PP, is one of the options that our clients can consider when selecting packaging materials. Here are a few facts about versatile polypropylene.
Polypropylene is used for a variety of custom thermoforming projects and also can be used to create fibers for carpeting, rope, tape and even clothing. In addition, this material is used to make toys, plastic vehicle parts, drinking straws, reusable containers and much more. Polypropylene is strong and sturdy yet flexible and also offers a good level of chemical resistance.
Because of this chemical resistance, as well as its heat resistance, PP can be used for custom thermoforming for a variety of food products. This includes foods, such as catsup, which might be warm or hot when first placed into the bottles. Of course, polypropylene also is used to store foods such as yogurt and ice cream. This plastic does not contain bisphenol A or BPA, nor does it leach any harmful chemicals into the foods or liquids placed inside the package or bottle.
Not only is polypropylene quite strong and versatile, it also is very lightweight, which is always a plus when it comes to custom thermoforming. Reducing package weight can have a positive impact on your overall shipping costs, which is just one of the many reasons why thermoplastics can be an excellent option for packaging.
Polypropylene is one of the most widely used plastics on earth, and it is recyclable. It is identified for recycling centers with the resin identification code of 5. Most recycling centers accept polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which has a code of 1 and also high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which has a code of 2. These days, more and more curbside recycling programs also are accepting polypropylene, as well. However, even in communities where PP is not accepted curbside, there are ways to recycle this type of plastic. Often, there are local recycling centers that will accept polypropylene, and it can then be reused to create everything from plastic trays to battery cases for vehicles to brooms.
Polypropylene might be an excellent choice for your custom thermoforming project, and we can also combine this thermoplastic with other materials to create the ideal package or product for your needs. We also create packaging and products out of materials such as HDPE, PET, PETG, PVC, ABS, OPS and even starch-based bio materials. We can take a look at your product and select the ideal thermoplastic for your needs and budget.
Custom thermoforming is a highly versatile process, and our design team can create a package in virtually any shape or size. We can also create many custom thermoplastic parts, custom thermoform trays and much more. In addition, we are happy to help with package fulfillment and inventory management. For more than 45 years, we have been helping create custom thermoforming solutions for clients from a myriad of industries and look forward to helping you with any project, large or small.
