Both plastic pallets and plastic boxes find widespread applications in an industrial environment. However, in the wake of awareness regarding environmental degradation due to use of non-biodegradable things and other factors, most people are now finding other alternatives. Some scientists have also made headway in manufacturing plastic from corn and natural sugar. So, it will be interesting to find out whether plastic pallets and plastic boxes are recyclable or not.
First and foremost, it is well-known that plastic is a non-biodegradable material or in short, non-recyclable. While it is a widely used material to manufacture household and industrial items, there is an air of ambiguity about the meaning of plastic.
What is plastic?
Plastic is a material made up of a long chain of molecules called ‘polymers’ which, in turn, are made of thousands or even millions of monomers. Polymers are often mixed with colorants, fillers, and reinforcements to manufacture plastic. Plastic has an ability to mold into any shape after heating. Since it is a material not found in nature, earthy bacteria find it impossible to break down the same, and it remains on the earth forever.
So, at a first glance, it appears that anything made of plastic will be non-recyclable. Plastic pallets made from recycled plastic are however recyclable. These are different from plastic boxes that are not recyclable. Now, the question arises why plastic pallets are recyclable and plastic boxes are not.
Manufacturing of plastic pallets from recycled plastic
You may have come across a plastic bottle or plastic jar with chasing arrow marks. These chasing arrows with a number written at their center convey whether the bottle or jar is made of recycled plastic or not.
For example, plastic bottles with number one written inside chasing arrow marks signify that it is PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) which can be recycled into new PET bottles or used in manufacturing carpets or life jackets after being shredded into small pieces. Similarly, plastic pallets manufactured by reputed manufacturers make it from PP (Polypropylene) or HD-PE (High-Density Polyethylene). PP is safe to reuse, but not for recycling, but HD-PE is recyclable.
However, most plastic boxes are made from PP or PVC that are not recyclable. Such boxes are rampantly used in the food packaging industry as well as in households as a lunch box. Experts also often describe PVC as a poison plastic that should not find any application in the food industry.
Thus, it is clear that plastic pallets are recyclable and could be used to store or transport food items. To buy such plastic pallets, it is vital to contact a reliable supplier. You can also easily spot hygienic or food-grade plastic pallets at a reasonable price. To know more, feel free to visit http://plasticpalletsltd.co.uk
Plastic Pallets 