A low-cost method for identifying plastic polymers used for food and beverage packaging
A low-cost method for identifying plastic polymers used for food and beverage packaging
Mismanaged plastic waste is a global concern, the problems of which are amplified in low- and middle-income countries where resources to support management measures may be limited. Whilst information regarding the composition of plastic waste is valuable for its management, existing methods to identify plastic polymers typically rely on specialist equipment and expertise.In the absence of polymer-specific information, decisions concerning management and policy lack underpinning evidence relating to the nature of plastic waste, its fate(s), and potential for its mitigation. This study presents a novel polymer identification method that is intended for use in settings where resources are limited and that can be used by observers without specialist skills. A frame work was developed to identify five commonly used synthetic polymers based on a sequence of simple tests to determine their physical properties. Performance of this identification framework was evaluated by nine observers who conducted 261 tests on plastic food and beverage packaging samples. The sensitivity of identification differed between polymers and formats (rigid or flexible) but was highest for rigid polyethylene terephthalate (97.5%) and flexible low density polyethylene (98.6%); for these polymers, identification sensitivity was similar to laboratory analytical methods. For rigid and flexible polypropylene packaging, identification sensitivity was lower(50%); for rigid high density polyethylene, identification sensitivity was intermediate (72.5%). It is recommended this novel method is not applied as a replacement for analytical determination of polymers when and where the necessary resources are available, but can be applied to positive effect where resources for specialist analysis are not available. By providing insight to the composition of mismanaged plastic waste, the method presented in this study can provide evidence to support measures for its remediation; polymer identification can be achieved using only readily available and inexpensive equipment, and without recourse to specialist expertise.
plastic polymers, polymeridentification, low- and middle-income countries, plasticwaste, plastic packaging, plastic packaging, plastic polymers, polymer identification, low- and middle-income countries, plastic waste
Shaw, Peter
935dfebf-9fb6-483c-86da-a21dba8c1989
Amoah, Josephine
a837e45d-df48-4563-8a14-c654bb1ef205
Asamoah, Moses
c3acd6d9-7255-416a-9e9a-500cf0c4ecfc
Boafor, Emefa
a19b1a51-6503-48ef-bffe-87008f92458b
Myers-Hansen, Gustavus
c7a8cbb5-7e2c-4373-aa76-15a455bf65bb
Okotto-Okotto, Joseph
a8cb5abe-ee03-4c93-978b-b02a02350e26
Okotto, L.G.
2f1a266f-0bfd-4c01-9277-402c7871820f
Dzodzomenyo, Mawuli
8a014b94-3899-4a8f-95f9-57f8dc92b1f9
Wright, Jim
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464
22 October 2025
Shaw, Peter
935dfebf-9fb6-483c-86da-a21dba8c1989
Amoah, Josephine
a837e45d-df48-4563-8a14-c654bb1ef205
Asamoah, Moses
c3acd6d9-7255-416a-9e9a-500cf0c4ecfc
Boafor, Emefa
a19b1a51-6503-48ef-bffe-87008f92458b
Myers-Hansen, Gustavus
c7a8cbb5-7e2c-4373-aa76-15a455bf65bb
Okotto-Okotto, Joseph
a8cb5abe-ee03-4c93-978b-b02a02350e26
Okotto, L.G.
2f1a266f-0bfd-4c01-9277-402c7871820f
Dzodzomenyo, Mawuli
8a014b94-3899-4a8f-95f9-57f8dc92b1f9
Wright, Jim
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464
Shaw, Peter, Amoah, Josephine, Asamoah, Moses, Boafor, Emefa, Myers-Hansen, Gustavus, Okotto-Okotto, Joseph, Okotto, L.G., Dzodzomenyo, Mawuli and Wright, Jim
(2025)
A low-cost method for identifying plastic polymers used for food and beverage packaging.
Environmental Research Communications, 7 (10), [101006].
(doi:10.1088/2515-7620/ae108c).
Abstract
Mismanaged plastic waste is a global concern, the problems of which are amplified in low- and middle-income countries where resources to support management measures may be limited. Whilst information regarding the composition of plastic waste is valuable for its management, existing methods to identify plastic polymers typically rely on specialist equipment and expertise.In the absence of polymer-specific information, decisions concerning management and policy lack underpinning evidence relating to the nature of plastic waste, its fate(s), and potential for its mitigation. This study presents a novel polymer identification method that is intended for use in settings where resources are limited and that can be used by observers without specialist skills. A frame work was developed to identify five commonly used synthetic polymers based on a sequence of simple tests to determine their physical properties. Performance of this identification framework was evaluated by nine observers who conducted 261 tests on plastic food and beverage packaging samples. The sensitivity of identification differed between polymers and formats (rigid or flexible) but was highest for rigid polyethylene terephthalate (97.5%) and flexible low density polyethylene (98.6%); for these polymers, identification sensitivity was similar to laboratory analytical methods. For rigid and flexible polypropylene packaging, identification sensitivity was lower(50%); for rigid high density polyethylene, identification sensitivity was intermediate (72.5%). It is recommended this novel method is not applied as a replacement for analytical determination of polymers when and where the necessary resources are available, but can be applied to positive effect where resources for specialist analysis are not available. By providing insight to the composition of mismanaged plastic waste, the method presented in this study can provide evidence to support measures for its remediation; polymer identification can be achieved using only readily available and inexpensive equipment, and without recourse to specialist expertise.
Text
Shaw_2025_Environ._Res._Commun._7_101006
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 7 October 2025
Published date: 22 October 2025
Keywords:
plastic polymers, polymeridentification, low- and middle-income countries, plasticwaste, plastic packaging, plastic packaging, plastic polymers, polymer identification, low- and middle-income countries, plastic waste
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 505943
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/505943
ISSN: 2515-7620
PURE UUID: 07ea1319-b44b-4797-a6e5-1c5ad9e53185
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 23 Oct 2025 17:05
Last modified: 05 Dec 2025 02:38
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Josephine Amoah
Author:
Moses Asamoah
Author:
Emefa Boafor
Author:
Gustavus Myers-Hansen
Author:
Joseph Okotto-Okotto
Author:
L.G. Okotto
Author:
Mawuli Dzodzomenyo
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
