What do the numbers on bottom of bottles indicate?

There is one more chain mail; it’s about the plastic bottles we use. There is a number written on the bottom of every plastic bottle, which varies from one to seven. Hoax Chain Mail claims that the number indicates how many times that particular plastic is recycled in reverse order. So anything above 5 is good.

It’s actually nothing to do with the number of recycling of the bottles. It’s just the type of plastic which is used for that particular bottle. 5 is polypropylene and 1 is PET that is polyethlyene terephthalate. The numbers below is useful while sorting the collected bottles while recycling. In other words it is plastic identification number.

1 - PET, polyethlyene terephthalate
2 - HDPE, high-density polyethylene
3 - PVC, polyvinyl chloride
4 - LDPE, low-density polyethylene
5 - PP, polypropylene
6 - PS/PS-E, polystyrene / expanded polystyrene
7 - OTHER, resins or multi-materials

Google yourself if you are not satisfied. But don’t panic if you receive the same chain mail tomorrow.

Here is copy paste of that mail

How to avoid:
Check on the bottom of the bottle there is a triangle sign and there will be a number on it.
If the number is higher than or equal to 5 –> then this bottle is safe to use.

Whatever number under 5, will release the chemical. For most bottle water, the number is 1.

Did you know chemical released by plastic water bottles can cause cancer

(It is not the water that affecting you but the chemical releasing from the bottle)

Pass this to all your friends and also make them aware of it…

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10 Responses to “What do the numbers on bottom of bottles indicate?”


  1. 1 indya April 22, 2007 at 3:59 pm

    linking it on http://www.bestofindya.com.

    please post your articles also on http://www.bestofindya.com

  2. 2 HelloWorld April 28, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    Peace people

    We love you

  3. 3 mahendrap June 12, 2007 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for the info. Snopes.com is a good resource whenever you receive such dubious email forwards. This one also explains why this chain mail started in the first place:
    http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/petbottles.asp

  4. 4 GoGolfer July 12, 2007 at 3:00 pm

    Hello Everyone,

    I am a golfer myself and I like to play whenever I get a chance.
    A short while ago, a very good friend of mine told me about a great golfing equipment and accessories website that has discounted prices on all their products, same day shipping in most cases and there is no state sales tax, they are paying that.
    So if any golfer here is ready to save some money on quality products at highly discounted prices, you might want to check out their site at; http://hoffmangolf.com

  5. 5 Prax August 6, 2007 at 5:14 pm

    what about soft drink bottles
    r they safe cause i didnt get any indiactor number on the pepsi coke bottels

  6. 6 TiDeS August 7, 2007 at 3:59 am

    Good info..

  7. 7 shelly April 22, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    numbers 2, 4, and 5 are safe. with 6 and 7 being the WORST to use. this is according to oprah’s broadcast and the health network.

  1. 1 PutVote.com Trackback on April 22, 2007 at 2:58 pm
  2. 2 Anonymous Trackback on April 22, 2007 at 3:02 pm
  3. 3 IndianBytes.com Trackback on April 22, 2007 at 3:09 pm

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