Myths & Facts

Are all plastic take-out containers designed for one-time use and disposal?

Polypropylene containers are dishwasher-safe and can be reused for up to 6 months or more in some cases.

Do plastics that go into curtsied recycling get recycled into the same products?

Some plastics can be 100% reused, but others require a blend of recycled and virgin plastics to meet consumer requirements for quality, safety and performance. Examples of new products are plastic fencing, park benches, and agricultural products.

Do plastic containers produce off-dours and off-flavoury when exposed to heat?

Unlike plastics that are not tolerant to heat (eg. PET, PVC & Polystyrene), Polypropylene containers are stable under heat lamps, in warming units and in microwaves up to 230°F.

Do plastics consume valuable energy resources?

All manufactured products require energy to convert raw materials into end products. However, incinerating plastic products can recapture energy to be used. They have the highest energy value for modern waste-to-energy incineration.

Are plastic containers safe to microwave?

Medical research has indicated that plastic containers such as Polypropylene containers pose no threat and can be reused to reheat food repeatedly in the microwave.

Is plastic packaging the best option?

Plastic is an excellent alternative to wood - no rotting, painting, mould, and termites. It discourages depletion of our forests and is more fuel-efficient to transport compared to glass or steel containers which require 9% and 37% more fuel respectively.

Is plastic a big waste problem?

Contrary to popular belief, 48-68% of our landfills is made up of organic waste (Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail and Latifah Abd. Manaf, Research Paper, The challenge of future landfill: A case study of Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2013). In USA, the landfill is 34.2% paper and paperboard, but only 11.8% plastic (EPA, 2005).

Can plastic be recycled?

Plastic can be recycled, and more will be in the furrow as consumers demand products with recycled plastics. Furthermore, Vytra is dedicated to creating a sustainable manufacturing environment through reducing, reusing, recycling, recovering and returning.

Do consumers prefer recycling or reusing containers?

Focus groups have identified that consumers prefer packaging that is reusable instead of recyclable or biodegradable containers.