Packaging Material Classification

Packaging tax in many countries depends on the material class:

• Plastics (Polymers)
• Paper (includes cardboard)
• Metals
• Glass
• Ceramics
• Wood
• Textile
• Composite

The trend is to make packaging tax more specific per material family (Ferrous metals and Non-Ferrous metal) or material type (e.g. PET, Aluminium). That is why packaging materials in IMDE are ategorized into several classes, each with its families and types, reflecting the diversity of materials available for packaging needs.

Packaging Material Classification

Plastics

• Material Family: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
  • Material Type: PET (for general use) - Class 1, see recycling codes overview
  • Material Type: A-PET (Amorphous PET) - Class 1
• Material Family: PE (Polyethylene)
  • Material Type: HDPE, MDPE - Class 2
  • Material Type: LDPE, LLDPE - Class 4
  • Material Type: BOPE - Class 7 (It's worth noting that BOPE might not always be classified under Class 7)
• Material Family: PP (Polypropylene)
  • Material Type: PP (general use polypropylene), CPP (Cast Polypropylene), BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene), OPP (Oriented Polypropylene) - Class 5
• Material Family: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
  • Material Type: PVC (commonly found in pipes, vinyl flooring, etc.), Flexible PVC, Rigid PVC, CPVC (Chlorinated PVC for hot water pipes) - Class 3
• Material Family: PS (Polystyrene)
  • Material Type: GPPS (General-Purpose Polystyrene), EPS (Expandable Polystyrene or Styrofoam), HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) - Class 6
• Material Family: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
  • Material Type: ABS (commonly used in toys, consumer goods, and more) - Class 7
• Material Family: Bioplastics
  • Material Type: PLA (Polylactic Acid) - Derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It can be compostable under specific industrial composting conditions. Typically designated as Class 7 in the RIC system.

Material Class: Paper and Cardboard

• Material Family: Kraft Paper
  • Material Type: Plain Kraft Paper (including recycled content) - Used for strong wrapping and packaging, both in its natural and recycled forms.
  • Material Type: Bleached Kraft Paper (including recycled content) - Suitable for aesthetic packaging needs, available in both original and recycled varieties.
• Material Family: Corrugated Cardboard
  • Material Type: Single-Wall Corrugated Board (including recycled content) - Standard for shipping boxes, with options for incorporating recycled material.
  • Material Type: Double-Wall Corrugated Board (including recycled content) - Heavier-duty cardboard, often available with recycled content for additional environmental benefits.
• Material Family: Paperboard (Cardstock)
  • Material Type: Folding Box Board (FBB) (including recycled content) - Common for lighter packaging, with both original and recycled options.
  • Material Type: Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) (including recycled content) - High-quality, smooth board for premium packaging, also available in recycled forms.
• Material Family: Specialty Papers
  • Material Type: Wax-Coated Paper (including recycled content) - Used for moisture-resistant packaging; recycled versions are often available.
  • Material Type: Foil-Laminated Paper (including recycled content) - Ideal for packaging needing protective barriers, with recycled options increasingly available.
• Material Family: Molded Pulp
  • Material Type: Molded Fiber Packaging (including recycled content) - Often made with a high proportion of recycled material, used for protective packaging.
  • Material Type: Thermoformed Pulp Products (including recycled content) - Custom-shaped packaging components, frequently made from recycled materials.

Metals

• Material family: Ferrous Metals:
  • Material type: Tinplate (Tinned Steel)- Often used for canned foods.
  • Material type: TFS (Tin-Free Steel)- Another type of steel used for cans.
• Material family: Non-Ferrous Metals:
  • Material type: Aluminium - Used for beverage cans, foil wraps, trays, etc.

4. Material Class: Glass

• Material Family: Soda-Lime Glass
  • Material Type: Clear Glass - Typically used for beverage bottles, food jars, and other transparent containers.
  • Material Type: Colored Glass - Used for bottles and jars where light-sensitive products are stored (like beer and certain medicines).
• Material Family: Borosilicate Glass
  • Material Type: Heat-Resistant Glass - Commonly used for laboratory equipment, cookware, and certain types of beverage containers.
• Material Family: Lead Glass
  • Material Type: Crystal Glassware - Often used for high-quality drinkware and decorative items.
  • Material Family: Silica Glass
  • Material Type: Fused Silica - Employed in specialized applications like optical fibers and certain laboratory equipment due to its high purity and thermal stability.
• Material Family: Aluminosilicate Glass
  • Material Type: Reinforced Glass - Utilized in heat-resistant applications and certain types of durable packaging.

Material Class: Ceramics

• Material Family: Earthenware
  • Material Type: Terracotta - Commonly used for decorative packaging, especially in artisanal or gourmet products.
• Material Family: Stoneware
  • Material Type: Glazed Stoneware - Used in durable, often decorative containers for a variety of products.
• Material Family: Porcelain
  • Material Type: High-Fired Porcelain - Employed in premium packaging for luxury goods, cosmetics, and speciality items.
• Material Family: Advanced Ceramics
  • Material Type: Technical Ceramics - Utilized in highly specialized packaging applications due to their unique properties like high strength, resistance to wear, and thermal stability.

Material Class: Wood

• Material Family: Softwood
  • Material Type: Pine - Commonly used for lightweight crates, pallets, and packing cases due to its affordability and availability.
  • Material Type: Spruce - Often used in similar applications as pine; valued for its strength and light weight.
• Material Family: Hardwood
  • Material Type: Oak - Utilized for durable, high-quality crates and barrels; often used in the wine industry for aging.
  • Material Type: Maple - Known for its strength and durability, used in heavy-duty packaging and custom crates for delicate items.
• Material Family: Engineered Wood
  • Material Type: Plywood - Versatile and strong, used for a wide range of packaging applications including boxes, crates, and internal packaging supports.
  • Material Type: Fiberboard (including MDF - Medium-Density Fiberboard) - Often used for lighter, cost-effective packaging solutions, such as in the packaging of flat-pack furniture or as a backing material in cartons.
• Material Family: Composite Wood
  • Material Type: Particleboard - Used in non-structural packaging applications where cost and weight are considerations.
  • Material Type: Oriented Strand Board (OSB) - Stronger than particleboard, used in more demanding packaging applications where durability is required.
• Material Family: Bamboo (technically a grass, but often classified with wood in packaging)
  • Material Type: Bamboo Plywood - Sustainable and strong, used for eco-friendly packaging solutions and for items needing a premium aesthetic appeal.
• Material Family: Specialty Wood
  • Material Type: Balsa - Extremely lightweight, used in specialty packaging for sensitive and lightweight items.
  • Material Type: Cedar - Known for its natural preservative properties, often used in packaging to deter pests and for products requiring a specific aroma.

Textile

• Material Family: Natural Fibers
  • Material Type: Cotton - Widely used for bags, sacks, and wrapping due to its durability and breathability.
  • Material Type: Jute - Commonly used for heavy-duty sacks (like coffee or rice bags) owing to its robustness and biodegradability.
• Material Family: Synthetic Fibers
  • Material Type: Polyester - Used for durable bags and wrappings, often in applications where strength and moisture resistance are needed.
  • Material Type: Polypropylene - Frequently used in the form of non-woven fabrics for lightweight bags, covers, and as a protective layer in composite packaging.
• Material Family: Blended Fibers
  • Material Type: Poly-cotton blends - Combines the benefits of both polyester and cotton, used in versatile packaging applications where both durability and comfort are important.
  • Material Type: Jute-cotton blends - Utilized for eco-friendly bags and sacks, offering a balance between strength and environmental sustainability.
• Material Family: Specialty and High-Performance Textiles
  • Material Type: Nylon - Known for its high strength and elasticity, used in high-strength bags and protective packaging.
  • Material Type: Spandex (Elastane) - Often incorporated into other fabrics to add stretchability in specialized packaging applications.
• Material Family: Regenerated Fibers
  • Material Type: Rayon/Viscose - Used for decorative and luxury packaging due to its silk-like appearance and feel.
  • Material Type: Lyocell (Tencel) - Known for its environmental sustainability, used in premium and eco-conscious packaging solutions.
• Material Family: Woven vs. Non-Woven Fabrics
  • Material Type: Woven Fabrics (like woven polypropylene) - Used for strong, durable bags and sacks in various industries.
  • Material Type: Non-Woven Fabrics (like spunbond polypropylene) - Employed in disposable or single-use packaging solutions, such as shopping bags and garment covers.
  • Special materials not directly a material but are used in packaging.

Composite

• Laminates: Layers of different materials bonded together, like plastic-aluminium-paper laminates used in beverage cartons.
• Coated Papers: Paper coated with plastic or wax to provide a barrier to moisture, air, etc.9

Biodegradable

Created from various materials that can break down naturally over time, including plant starches and mushroom-based materials. Each of these main categories and their subcategories can offer different advantages and disadvantages in terms of protection, cost, environmental impact, and other factors, depending on the specific packaging requirements.

Related Pages

• Material Certifications