Plastics Deconstructed: The Big Five and the Seven Codes

While nearly all plastics are made from fossil fuels, their differences become clear only when we look at the seven RIC codes.

Dear Reader, it feels nice to take a journey down the ‘history lane’, and that is what I did over the past three weeks. In the first part, we began with Abeer’s vivid and haunting dream—a child’s gentle warning about the sorrow of our oceans.

In the second part, we traced plastics from their origins to their surprising rise as everyday companions in our homes. And in the third part, we explored how human ingenuity, driven by necessity and innovation, ushered in a new era of synthetic materials that transformed modern manufacturing.

So far, so good. Now, let us return to the present scenario and understand how this ‘wonder material’ is making life miserable not only for us humans but for all living beings on the planet. But before that, it will be worthwhile to learn the basics about plastics.

The big five

Almost 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels. On the basis of composition, there are many different types of plastic. But practically almost 90% of all the plastics produced are of five major types, which are as follows:

Polyethylene (PE) accounts for 34.4% of global plastic production, followed by polypropylene (PP) at 24.2%, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at 16.5%, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 7.7%, and polystyrene (PS) at 7.3%. Ethylene is a critical feedstock for the production of polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polystyrene—together representing about 65% of all plastics made by weight. Propylene, likewise, is the main raw material used to produce polypropylene.

Taken together, this means that most of the world’s plastics can be traced back to the product streams of just two industrial chemicals: ethylene and propylene. While not all fossil fuels are turned into plastic, virtually all plastics are derived from fossil fuels. This is further reinforced by the fact that the biggest companies in both sectors are integrated giants that produce fossil fuels as well as plastics.

Another key input, naphtha, comes directly from oil refining, and its production is concentrated among major oil companies with large refining capacities. If current trends in oil use and plastic manufacturing continue, plastics alone are projected to consume 20% of all oil produced by 2050. Understanding these industrial linkages is essential for addressing the global plastic pollution crisis and recognising the role that corporate actors play in driving it.

Plastics around us

Let us now take a closer look at the plastics we encounter in our daily lives. Plastics come in an astonishing range of shapes, sizes, and colours, and each variety serves a different purpose. To make sense of this diversity, they are grouped into specific categories based on their chemical composition, properties, and intended use.

For instance, certain types of plastic are sturdy and safe enough to be reused multiple times, while others are designed for single use because of the chemicals or additives they contain. Similarly, some plastics can be easily recycled and turned into new products, whereas others require careful handling and must be discarded in specialised ways.

RIC System: 7 Numbers

To make informed choices about the products we use every day, it is important to understand the different types of plastics, how they differ from one another, and the impact each type has on the environment. Plastics are broadly classified into seven major categories under the Resin Identification Code (RIC) system, with each type assigned a number from 1 to 7.

This number is usually printed or embossed on the product, placed inside a small triangle made of chasing arrows—something we often overlook. The next time you buy a bottle of drinking water, just turn it over and look at the base. You will notice the number 1 stamped inside that triangle, quietly telling you what kind of plastic the bottle is made of.

Curious to know what these numbers mean and how they guide recycling and disposal? Hold on to that curiosity until next Saturday. Untill then, have a wonderful weekend!

(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)