There is a triangle with an arrow at the bottom of disposable plastic lunch boxes and cutlery, which is the "recycling" symbol. There are Arabic numerals from 1 to 7 inside. Different Arabic numerals represent different properties and uses of this plastic material. It is like the identity certificate of plastic products.
The number "1" of disposable plastic lunch boxes and cutlery means that the material of the plastic is PET, that is, polyethylene terephthalate, which is commonly seen in mineral water bottles, carbonated beverage bottles, etc. It is heat-resistant to 70°C, easy to deform, and has substances that are harmful to the human body dissolved; after 10 months of use, it may release carcinogens DEHP; it cannot be placed in the sun in the car, and cannot be used to hold alcohol, oil and other substances. Bottles with this mark cannot continue to hold water after use. Please throw them in the recyclable trash can and let them be recycled.
The number "2" of disposable plastic lunch boxes and cutlery means that the material of the plastic is HDPE, which is commonly seen as packaging bottles for cleaning products and shower products. It is not used for food packaging.
The number "3" of disposable plastic lunch boxes and cutlery means that the material of the plastic is PVC. This material is prone to produce harmful substances at high temperatures, and it will even be released during the manufacturing process. After the toxic substances enter the human body with food, they may cause breast cancer, congenital defects and other diseases. At present, containers made of this material are rarely used to package food. If used, never let it heat up.
Disposable plastic lunch box tableware The number "4" represents that the material of the plastic is LDPE. The general products are plastic wrap, plastic film, etc. The heat resistance is not strong. Usually, qualified PE plastic wrap will melt when the temperature exceeds 110℃, leaving some plastic preparations that cannot be decomposed by the human body. In addition, when the food is wrapped in plastic wrap and heated, the fat in the food can easily dissolve the harmful substances in the plastic wrap. Therefore, before putting the food into the microwave, the plastic wrap wrapped around it must be removed first.
Disposable plastic lunch box tableware The number "5" represents that the material of the plastic is PP. High temperature resistant, mostly seen in microwave lunch boxes. Can be reused after careful cleaning. It is important to note that some microwave lunch boxes are made of PP No. 5, but the lid is made of PE No. 1. Since PE cannot withstand high temperatures, it cannot be placed in the microwave together with the box. To be on the safe side, remove the lid before placing the container in the microwave.
The number "6" on disposable plastic lunch boxes and tableware indicates that the plastic is made of PS. It is often seen in bowl-shaped instant noodle boxes and fast food boxes. It is heat-resistant and cold-resistant, but it cannot be placed in a microwave oven to avoid releasing chemicals due to excessive temperature. It cannot be used to hold strong acids (such as orange juice) and strong alkaline substances, because it will decompose polystyrene, which is not good for the human body and is easy to cause cancer. Therefore, you should try to avoid using fast food boxes to pack hot food.
The number "7" on disposable plastic lunch boxes and tableware indicates that the plastic is made of materials other than PVC and polystyrene or a composite material of multiple plastic materials. It is often seen in kettles, water cups, and baby bottles. It is heat-resistant and can be used repeatedly, but it cannot be heated in a microwave oven.