Resin identification code
The ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System, often abbreviated RIC, is a set of symbols appearing on plastic products that identify the plastic resin out of which the product is made. It was developed in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry in the United States, but since 2008 it has been administered by ASTM International, an international standards organization.
Polypropylene lid of a Tic Tac box, with a living hinge and the resin identification code, 5, under its flap
Image: RIC Updated
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be molded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptability, plus a wide range of other properties, such as being lightweight, durable, flexible, and inexpensive to produce, has led to their widespread use. Plastics typically are made through human industrial systems. Most modern plastics are derived from fossil fuel-based chemicals like natural gas or petroleum; however, recent industrial methods use variants made from renewable materials, such as corn or cotton derivatives.
Household items made of various types of plastics
A plastic handle from a kitchen utensil, deformed by heat and partially melted
A Slovnaft facility in Bratislava, Slovakia
A SOCAR Polymer polypropylene plant in Sumgayit, Azerbaijan