Plastics Explained
Our extensive stock - of over 12 million items - covers a range of more than 125 different types of
plastic glasses and cups.
Our products cover everything from firm disposable, through flexible disposable, to standard reusable
and the virtually unbreakable top of the range polycarbonate reusable. This wide spectrum requires a
number of different plastics.
The first, and most important, distinction is that some products are designed as disposable, others
as reusable.
Disposable
Crystal Styrene
Crystal Polystyrene glasses are designed for clarity. Manufactured and packed for maximum hygiene
these disposable glasses are of the highest quality. They can crack if too much pressure is exerted
on them.
Polypropylene (flexi)
Polypropylene glasses are flexible. Manufactured and packed for maximum hygiene these disposable
glasses are a popular choice for large events and festivals.
Recycling
All our plastics are recyclable.
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Reusable
Acrylic
Acrylic is a heavy, rigid plastic. Glasses made from this product are usually moulded in the Far
East for the household market.
Reusable Styrene
A large number of our reusable glasses are made from hard walled polystyrene. These glasses are
dishwasher safe in excess of 100 washes and heat resistant to 100 C.
SAN
Styreneacrylonitrile is a tough plastic that can take a lot of heavy usage, although it will break
under heavy pressure. This is recommended for household or restaurant use. Dishwasher safe, this
plastic can stand temperatures of up to 100 C.
Polycarbonate
This is the plastic used to make crash helmets, riot shields, bullet proof glass and now virtually
unbreakable plastic glasses! This material can go through in excess of 500 dishwasher cycles without
showing any degradation, and is heat resistant up to 145 C.
R-PET: These glasses are made from recycled PET, and are ideally used for food beverages and liquid
containers. They are environmentally friendly and are easier to recycle than normal plastics, and can
also be recycled alongside most plastic recycling. They are wear resistance, and have a tolerance to
higher temperatures preventing them from cracking under pressure.
PET This type of plastic labeled with the #1 code on or near the bottom of bottles and containers
is commonly used to package soft drinks, water, juice. PET is a popular package for food and non-food
products. Manufacturers use PET plastic to package products because of its strength, thermo-stability
and transparency. Customers choose PET because it is inexpensive, lightweight, resealable, shatter-resistant
and recyclable.
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