Plastic remains an ever-popular material for manufacturing due to its versatility and dependability. Plastic bottle packaging, as such, is a highly common format for packaging a diverse range of products across many industries. In particular, pharmaceutical packaging benefits from plastic’s many useful properties for packaging that ensures product safety and maintains the integrity of medications.
In this blog, we delve into what plastic is, the types of plastic that are commonly used for packaging and how a plastic bottle is manufactured for pharmaceutical use. So, read below for a full insight into all you need to know about plastic bottles and why their use is so prevalent.
What Is Plastic?
Plastics are a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials made from long, repeating chains of molecules called ‘polymers’.
These materials are popular for their ability to be moulded. When soft, they can be moulded into a variety of shapes before hardening to remain in their new structural design. As a result, plastic is used for a range of common household items as well as specialist equipment.
Plastics are lightweight yet sturdy and durable, so they don’t easily bend or break. This makes them a popular choice for a range of products, with some of the most common uses of plastics including:
- Packaging containers and equipment
- Medical containers
- Food packaging
- Pharmacy packaging
- Wellbeing product packaging
- Controlled substance packaging
- Toys and games
- Sports equipment
What Are the Common Types of Plastic?
There are seven types of plastics, each with unique properties that make them suitable for use in different bottles and products. Below are the seven types of plastics and examples of how they are used:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) – A commonly recyclable plastic, PET bottles are commonly used in food and drink packaging, such as water bottles.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) – Another commonly recyclable plastic that is stronger than PET, HDPE is used in everything from shopping bags to medical containers. HDPE bottles are also common and are typically used for toiletries bottles.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – A versatile plastic that has two forms: rigid and flexible. It’s commonly known for its use in windows and doors as it does not rot or rust.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) – A traditionally thinner and less dense plastic that is popular in the pharmaceutical industry in the form of LDPE bottles. This is due to its heat-, acid- and alcohol-resistant properties.
- Polypropylene (PP) – A thick and sturdy plastic known for its thermal and heat-resistant properties, commonly used for polypropylene bottles in food and drink packaging.
- Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS) – A non-biodegradable and non-recyclable plastic that is commonly known as ‘Styrofoam’ and used in food containers such as egg cartons and takeaway packaging.
- Other – This includes all other plastic materials, including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fibreglass, and nylon.
How Are Plastic Bottles Made?
Plastic bottles, including water bottles and those used in pharmaceutical packaging, are typically produced using a technique called stretch blow moulding.
This process sees plastic pellets heated until they become liquid, then poured into long, thin tube moulds.
These plastic tubes then need to be transformed into the required bottle shape through a stretching process. A thin steel rod is placed inside the tube, applying highly-pressured air. The heat and pressure of this air then stretch the mould into the desired shape.
The finished bottle mould is then cooled instantly, typically by pouring cold water into the pipes surrounding the mould or by applying pressurised CO2, to produce the final product.
Why Is Plastic Used in Pharmaceutical Packaging?
The heat-, acid- and alcohol-resistant properties of many types of plastics – as well as their lightweight and durable properties – make it a convenient and safe solution for storing many types of pharmaceutical products.
Pharmaceutical containers are mostly in contact with the medicines that they are carrying, which means they cannot be made with anything that could present a risk of toxicity. As a result, the plastic materials often used for these are ensured to be safe for direct contact with medications.
Pharma packaging must also be durable and child-resistant to avoid accidental ingestion, which makes plastic a highly suitable choice. Most plastics are designed to withstand impact and high temperatures without compromising their integrity, so they are often chosen for these beneficial qualities.
Plastic Bottles From Origin
Now that you know how PET bottles are made and have further insights into the many useful qualities of plastic, you can best select your ideal packaging solution from our array of plastic packaging at Origin.
Interested in learning more about plastic bottles’ properties and how they can support the safe and hygienic storage of pharmaceutical products? Chat with our helpful team today or view our range of plastic bottles. With over 60 years of experience in producing plastic bottles and many other durable and safe products, we provide an extensive collection of packaging that perfectly meets your business needs.
