Plastic bottle

<p>A plastic bottle is a <a href="/facts/Bottle/TfyKYYKb">bottle</a> constructed from high-density or low density <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a>. Plastic bottles are typically used to store liquids such as water, soft drinks, motor oil, cooking oil, medicine, shampoo or milk. They range in sizes, from very small bottles to large <a href="/facts/Carboy/rontJpB8">carboys</a>. Consumer blow molded containers often have integral <a href="/facts/Package_handle/ryh0eoWT">handles</a> or are shaped to facilitate grasping.
</p><p>Plastic was invented in the nineteenth century and was originally used to replace common materials such as ivory, rubber, and shellac. Plastic bottles were first used commercially in 1947, but remained relatively expensive until the early 1950s when high-density <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polyethylene</a> was introduced. They quickly became popular with both manufacturers and customers because compared to <a href="/facts/Glass_bottle/M9BkWetH">glass bottles</a>, plastic bottles are lighter, cheaper and easier to transport. However, the biggest advantage plastic bottles have over their glass counterparts is their superior resistance to <a href="/facts/Structural_integrity_and_failure/5aYoMIlw">breakage</a>, in both production and transportation. Except for wine and beer, the <a href="/facts/Food_industry/1JPhss6V">food industry</a> has largely replaced glass bottles with plastic bottles.
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Plastic bottle open-in-new

Plastic bottle