Resin Identification Code (RIC)

[edit] Background

In 1988, the Society of the Plastics Industry introduced the Resin Identification Code (RIC), dividing plastics into 7 different categories, and the symbol design from Anderson became associated with this. In 2008, the system transitioned to the standards body ASTM International and in 2010 ASTM D7611 – Standard Practice for Coding Plastic Manufacturers Articles for Resin Identification, was published.

The well known symbol that represents recycling, with three arrows following one another in a triangle which is now very much associated with the RIC systems, was actually designed in 1970 by a student. A competition was organised by the Container Corporation of America (CCA) to develop a new label for recycled and recyclable paper cardboard and raise awareness about recycling. The competition was won by Gary Anderson, a 23 year old student at the University of Southern California who was awarded 2,500 dollars.

Although the RIC system has been generally associated with recycling, it was not actually its intention. In June 2013, the three arrows were replaced with a solid triangle because of this confusion and consumers associating the original design with recyclability, which was not always the case.

The study of plastics is complex because of the massive number of derivations, in mixtures, processes and similarity in naming. The system was introduced to give some guidance. However the characteristic of each plastic varies in use as well as in the manufacturing processes, associated impacts, potential for reuse, reclaim and indeed recycling. The RIC system although useful, is in someways more applicable to packaging products than construction, because the construction industry employs a vast range of plastic materials many of which are composites of different products and which fall outside of this system under the 'other' category.

[edit] Resin Identification Code (RIC)

[edit] RIC 1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)

Polyethylene Terephthalate is a stable polyester with increasing uses. It has for sometime been used in bottles and food containers but is also increasingly used as an alternative to thermoset plastics (because of its recyclability) and in casings for the electrical and automotive industries, such as electrical encapsulation, solenoids, smart meters, photovoltaics and junction boxes.

For more information see: Polyethylene Terephthalate

[edit] RIC 2 - High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

High density polyethylene has a very high molecular weight. Polyethylene is a whitish, semi-crystalline, and effectively opaque engineering thermoplastic. In households it is commonly found in containers for milk, motor oil, shampoos, soap bottles, detergents, and bleaches, and has been used for municipal and industrial water applications for over 50 years, as well as more recently for ground source geothermal applications. It is also used for vapour barriers, air and moisture barrier membranes, carpet textiles, roofing, industrial adhesives and tapes. It may also be found in temporary use as packaging elements such as window films, counter top protection etc.

For more information see: High Density Polyethylene

[edit] RIC 3 - Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sometimes known as ‘vinyl’, is a plastic material that has widespread use in building, transport, electrical, healthcare and packaging. It has been produced widely since 1933 and now accounts for approximately 20% of all plastic manufactured around the world, second only to polyethylene (polyethene). Examples of PVC construction products include, window and door profiles and conservatories (uPVC ad CPVC), pipes and fittings, power, data and telecoms wiring and cables, internal and external cladding, ducting, roofing membranes, flooring, wall coverings.

For more information see: Polyvinyl chloride

[edit] RIC 4 - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a flexible, odourless, transparent, thermoplastic polymer. It can be recycled and is used commonly in products such as grocery and waste bags, juice containers, and cling film. In construction it is also commonly used as a cling wrap for materials transported on pallets as it conforms well to different surfaces. It is not strong or puncture resistant but is widely used in construction and agriculture as surface protection, covers, tarps etc.

For more information see: Low Density Polyethylene

[edit] RIC 5 - Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene (PP also known as polypropene or polymerised propene) is a thermoplastic polymer with similar qualities to polyethylene (PE) but slightly harder and with better resistance to heat and organic solvents. PP can be injection moulded and extruded into many shapes and products such as cups, cutlery, containers, houseware and car parts e.g batteries. It is also spun into fibres for inclusion in industrial and domestic textiles, including for clothing. PP fibres can be added to concrete to increase strength and reduce cracking, for non-woven fabrics for ground stabilisation, in roofing membranes (waterproofing top-layer in single-ply systems), reinforcement in construction and road paving, electrical cable insulation (as an alternative to PVC), piping systems, carpets, rugs and upholstery, medical and laboratory equipment, plastic machine parts, industrial rope and cords.

For more information see: Polypropylene

[edit] RIC 6 - Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene, is a hard, stiff, transparent synthetic resin produced by the polymerisation of styrene. It has been widely employed in the food-service industry as rigid trays and containers, disposable eating utensils, and foamed cups, plates, and bowls. In terms of construction it can be found as a polystyrene plastic, film or foam, of which there are well known terms expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), oriented polystyrene (OPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). The EPA has previously published recognition that styrene (the primary building block of polystyrene) is a health threat to humans, considered a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is though used often as an insulant as well as in things such as fire alarms, casings and packaging of goods, though it is used increasingly less.

For more information see: Polystyrene

[edit] RIC 7 - Other

In general the other category usually includes a few plastic products such as acrylics, nylon, and fibreglass. In terms of the construction industry the number of materials that can be found in this category can be broad as it is most likely to also include composites such as Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), Carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRP), Glass-fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) and many others.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• BREEAM Recycled aggregates.
• Circular economy.
• Composting.
• Construction waste.
• Hire, reclaim and reuse scheme combats construction waste.
• Managing packaging waste streams.
• Plastic in construction.
• Plastic and recycling.
• Recyclable construction materials.
• Recycling explained.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Reused construction products.
• Site waste management plan.
• Total Resource Use and Efficiency TRUE.
• Waste and Resources Action Programme WRAP.

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