What Plastics Are Plastic Laundry Baskets Made Of?

Olefin Plastics

• Olefin plastics are made from a flammable, colorless alkene gas, also called ethene, that is obtained from coal, natural gas and petroleum. The carbon atoms in alkene are bonded together to form olefin plastics.

Polyethylene Plastic

• There are two types of polyethylene plastic, high-density and low-density. High-density polyethylene is more dense and rigid. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic is softer and more flexible. LDPE is most often used to make inexpensive laundry baskets for home use.

Polypropylene Plastic

• Polypropylene is used to make containers that are stiff and hard. It is ordinarily used to make toys, and the casing and housing of computers, stereos and electrical appliances. Polypropylene is often used to make large, solid laundry containers used commercially to collect heavy loads of towels, sheets and bedding from motels, hotels and hospitals. Some of these containers are mounted on wheels.

Source

• Most of the inexpensive laundry baskets marketed for home use in the United States are made in China. China has had to import much of its polyethylene and polypropylene plastics. These imports are made from alkene gas derived from natural gas and petroleum, whose costs are rising as reserves dwindle and demand increases. To reduce its dependence on imported polyethylene and polypropylene, China is shifting to cheaper plastics made from its own substantial coal reserves.