Materials database

HDPE is the stiff, opaque plastic of milk bottles, detergent and shampoo bottles, and many white chopping boards.

LDPE is the soft, flexible plastic of carrier bags, bread bags, freezer bags and most cling film.

Melamine resin is the hard, glossy plastic of picnic plates and children's tableware, and of most 'bamboo' cups and bowls, where bamboo powder is bound with it.

Nylon (polyamide) is the plastic of most black kitchen spatulas and spoons, toothbrush bristles, pyramid tea bags and many fabrics.

Polycarbonate is a hard, glass-clear plastic made from bisphenol A (BPA).

PET is the clear, light plastic of drinks bottles and fruit punnets, and the same polymer is spun into polyester fabric.

PLA is a plastic made from plant sugars, often sold as 'plant-based', 'compostable' or 'biodegradable'.

Polypropylene is the tough, heat-tolerant plastic used for food tubs, bottle caps, baby bottles and kettle bodies.

Polystyrene is the plastic of foam takeaway boxes, foam cups, packaging chips and some hard clear cups and cutlery.

PTFE, best known as Teflon, is the slippery fluoropolymer coating on most non-stick pans.

PVC is a hard plastic made soft and flexible by adding plasticisers, often phthalates.

Silicone is a synthetic polymer built on silicon and oxygen rather than carbon.

Natural rubber is made from the latex sap of the rubber tree.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron, chromium and usually nickel.