The plastic bottles industry for decades remained relatively unchanged. However, as recycling and environmentalism as a whole began to grow, the plastic industry began to change. There were also changes in the regulations as to the composition and construction of plastic bottles. Given these factors, there is a push toward biodegradable plastics and other new advances.

Plastic bottle manufacturers now have to follow these new guidelines as well as reassure consumers as to their safety. This reassurance changed the way people viewed the plastic bottle manufacturers and the plastic bottle manufacturing industry. Now, this doesn’t mean that usage of plastic bottles is down; quite the contrary. Curbside recycling programs for plastic bottles are now a mainstay in most cities. These programs, and the fact that the population in the U.S. is growing, account for some of the increase in plastic usage. To understand the industry better, here are few items to consider:

1. Monitor the associations within the plastic containers and bottles industry.

2. Keep up with the current regulatory information regarding plastic bottles.

3. Contact the top plastic bottle wholesale companies in the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Join or speak to plastic bottle supplier related associations

Usually the latest information on the future of an industry comes from the associations within that industry. You can join the associations, sign up for email notices or just visit their websites' information section for the industry updates.

I recommend: Contact the Association of Post Consumer Plastic Recyclers for the industry news on recycled plastics. For all safety information concerning plastic containers and bottles, join the National Center for Food Safety and Technology Association.

Examine the regulatory agencies that govern plastic water bottles

With the transformation of this industry under stricter environmental rules, it's vital to know the latest regulatory information to ensure your plastic bottles industry overview is current. You also need to know how the industry is reacting to any new legislation or consumer related issues.

I recommend: Contact the American Chemistry Council if you have any questions about plastic. Its website also has the information they want the public to know about plastic products. Subscribe to the email delivery service available at the Federal Drug Administration website. You can customize these updates so you receive information regarding the plastics industry.

Speak to the manufacturers of wholesale plastic bottles

To obtain pricing information on clear plastic bottles, you need to contact a salesperson or view online pricing lists prior to the call. This will give you an idea of what these products cost on the wholesale level and gives you a better overview of the industry.

I recommend: View the latest pricing information from the plastic bottle suppliers at SKS Bottle & Packaging. For a comparison to its pricing, you can use the data from Container & Packaging Supply Company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To understand this industry or any industry, it's best to talk to the people who work in it. Therefore, trade shows or conferences are a great way to stay current on anything related to plastic bottle distributors or suppliers. If there aren't any trade shows in your area, make an appointment with a local plastic bottles wholesale supplier to converse about the industry.

To advertise and ultimately sell a product successfully, the packaging needs to be attractive and suitable for the product. Plastic bottle suppliers can offer various types of clear plastic bottles at competitive prices. Whether you need customized plastic bottles, wholesale bottles or bottles in bulk, prioritize the aesthetic qualities of the bottles and the price for the quantities you need.

Plastic bottle distributors should offer you various cost-effective options that depend on your plastic bottle needs. To efficiently showcase your product, a plastic bottle should:

1. Fit the product you sell

2. Promote your product in an attractive way

3. Be friendly to the environment

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy plastic bottles wholesale

Compare plastic bottle distributors to find the supplier who can meet your budget, packaging requirements and plastic bottle wholesale needs.

I recommend: Container and Packaging Supply is a plastic bottle supplier that offers a wide array of plastic products. Whether you need plastic water bottles, milk containers or plastic spray bottles, they offer a large stock at a competitive price. Buy plastic bottles wholesale at eBottles.com.

Advertise on your plastic bottles

Use the right combination of style and color on your clear plastic bottles to heighten product recognition and to increase sales.

I recommend: Hire a plastic bottle manufacturing company to create unique plastic bottles to your specifications. Package Supply & Equipment Co. can create a mold specifically to suit your product. PSE can tailor the shape, size and color to meet your expectations. For custom labels, screen printing or color stamping, use the professionals at CPS as your plastic bottle supplier.

Pick environmentally-friendly plastic bottles

Being 'green' is not only popular, but important to help the environment. Plastic is one of the most used materials and certain types of plastic are more easily recycled.

I recommend: Choose plastic bottle manufacturers who offer plastic bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate or PET, a type of plastic that is not only durable but easily recycled. United States Plastic Corporation is a plastic bottle supplier that offers a large stock of PET bottles. Sidel is a French company that produces environmentally friendly plastic bottles. UK-based Greenbottle offers an award-winning recyclable plastic bottle.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget to purchase lids for your plastic bottles, if not already supplied by your plastic bottle distributors.
• •  Check the websites of plastic bottle manufacturers for clearance items. Perfectly usable plastic bottles can be found at marked down prices.

Despite what most people think, not all plastic bottles are equal. There are seven main categories of plastic for making bottles and each has a defined use. For example, the common uses of Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET plastic bottles are for sodas, cooking oil and peanut butter. These are the most recycled of all plastic bottles. To know which plastic bottles are which, be sure to read the labeling prior to purchase and know some plastic bottles basics.

The characteristics of each plastic bottle differ in how they react to hot, cold and chemicals. Plastic bottle manufacturers will usually be able to guide you through the process of choosing the right type of plastic bottles for your business. However, you don't want to be at the mercy of the supplier in terms of product knowledge, even if you trust that plastic bottle distributor. Another issue is the ability of your company or the consumer to recycle each type of bottle after using them. Therefore, before you choose a distributor or a plastic bottle there are few things to consider, such as:

1. Review the composition and uses of plastic bottles.

2. Contact plastic bottle recycling organizations for environmental information.

3. Browse the inventories of leading plastic bottle suppliers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand the uses and composition of plastic bottles

With the wide range of plastic bottles available, your company should understand the basic derivation of each type and their uses. The basic uses of each then dictates the composition and the cost to recycle each type of plastic bottle.

I recommend: Verify the recycling labels that are on each type of plastic bottle by reviewing the plastic symbols guide at Earth Odyssey. Use the Guide to Plastic Bottles at Eco Perks to understand the issues of plastic bottle composition.

Subscribe to the information available from organizations on plastic bottles

The various plastic associations can be a wealth of information about plastic bottles basics. These organizations have online subscription services and web updates about the plastic bottles industry and recycling.

I recommend: Visit the National Association for Plastic Container Recovery website for more information on recycling—a basic need of any company that uses plastic bottles regularly. Use the industry networking services at The Society of the Plastics Industry to understand how the plastic bottle industry affects your business.

Browse the various types of plastic bottles

The plastic bottle comes in many shapes and varieties. From plastic water bottles to plastic spray bottles and every type in between, there is type to fit the needs of any company. There are also some plastic bottle you may want to avoid if your company is environmentally conscious.

I recommend: Contact the Plastic Bottle Corporation, which is among the leading plastic bottle distributors to learn more about the various bottles available. Review the plastic bottles wholesale information from Midwest Bottles to determine the most cost effective plastic containers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Plastic bottles can create a public relations problem if your company doesn't have a recycling program. If you purchase plastic bottles, but don't institute some type of program, the public can view it as your company not caring about the environment. A recycling program's cost is minimal and can save you headaches in the future, not to mention that it just makes sense.

You're likely to encounter seven types of plastics as a retailer, wholesaler, distributor or consumer of plastic bottles and bottled products. PET and HDPE plastics are by far the most commonly used and easiest to recycle, with LDPE and PP plastics close behind, while polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and mixed resin plastics are rarely used to produce bottles. Review this basic vocabulary information, including plastic types, to get a handle on what plastic bottles are safe and which are most easily recycled.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical used to create polycarbonate plastics, which are still a popular material for plastic water bottles.

I recommend: Bisphenol-A is a clearing house for information about Bisphenol A, including information about how it is made and used, along with the latest news and press releases connected to Bisphenol A.

PET

PET or PETE stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a tough, clear plastic that is used to make plastic bottles for a variety of foods and liquids. PETE plastic is easily recycled, and can be easily identified because it bears the number '1' within a triangle shape made of arrows.

I recommend: The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council details the characteristics and suitability of PETE plastics for use in food- and water-containing bottles.

HDPE

HDPE or high density polyethylene plastic is denoted by its creamy, milky color and the recycling number 2 (within a triangle made of arrows).

I recommend: HDPE-CONTAINERS.com explains the characteristics of HDPE plastic bottles and lists some of the most common uses for bottles made of this type of plastic.

LDPE

LDPE or low density polyethylene products are more flexible than high-density polyethylene plastics, making them suitable for manufacturing plastic bottles where some flexibility is required. LDPE also is commonly used to produce plastic wrap.

I recommend: SKS Bottle & Packaging describes the characteristics and uses of LDPE plastics.

PP

PP or Polypropylene plastics are signified by the number 5 within a triangle-shaped chasing arrows symbol. While this plastic is not as readily recycled as PET and HDPE plastics, it is considered to be safe for use in food and water bottles because it does not leach chemicals.

I recommend: IDES gives an overview of polypropylene plastics and their common uses, including packaging such as bottles.

Polycarbonate plastic

Polycarbonate plastic has been widely used to produce hard plastic drinking bottles, but, because it releases Bisphenol A, is being phased out of production by many manufacturers.

I recommend: San Diego Plastics explains the history, uses and different grades of polycarbonate plastic.