How to choose the material for your bottle
Resin determines clarity, cost, chemical resistance and what you can legally claim on the label. This page is the short version of the advice we give before quoting.
What each material is good at
HDPE
Matte or frosted surface, opaque, resistant to most household chemicals. The default for shampoo, hand wash and detergent.
Typical use: Shampoo, shower gel, hand wash, detergent, car care
PET
Glossy, crystal clear and lightweight. Shows the product colour and takes premium decoration well.
Typical use: Spray bottles, clear lotion, sanitizer, fuel additive
Wheat straw
Plant residue blended into PP, cutting virgin plastic. Slightly higher unit cost, warm matte appearance.
Typical use: Eco shampoo, spray and jar ranges
PCR
Post-consumer recycled resin with documented recycled content for brand sustainability targets.
Typical use: Recycled-content lines for EU and US brands
PLA
Compostable but costly and poor for long-term storage — we advise against it for most cosmetics.
Typical use: Short-life, industrial compost programmes
PP / PETG
Stiff walls, good clarity or high gloss; PETG gives a heavy, premium jar feel.
Typical use: Cream jars, caps, closures
Comparison table
| Material | Behaviour | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE | Matte or frosted surface, opaque, resistant to most household chemicals. The default for shampoo, hand wash and detergent. | Shampoo, shower gel, hand wash, detergent, car care |
| PET | Glossy, crystal clear and lightweight. Shows the product colour and takes premium decoration well. | Spray bottles, clear lotion, sanitizer, fuel additive |
| Wheat straw | Plant residue blended into PP, cutting virgin plastic. Slightly higher unit cost, warm matte appearance. | Eco shampoo, spray and jar ranges |
| PCR | Post-consumer recycled resin with documented recycled content for brand sustainability targets. | Recycled-content lines for EU and US brands |
| PLA | Compostable but costly and poor for long-term storage — we advise against it for most cosmetics. | Short-life, industrial compost programmes |
| PP / PETG | Stiff walls, good clarity or high gloss; PETG gives a heavy, premium jar feel. | Cream jars, caps, closures |
Material questions we answer weekly
Is PET or HDPE better for shampoo?
HDPE is the usual choice for opaque shampoo and conditioner because it resists surfactants and takes a soft-touch finish. PET is chosen when you want the formula visible.
Can wheat straw bottles be recycled?
Yes, in the PP stream. They reduce virgin plastic content but they are not home-compostable — avoid “biodegradable” on the label unless you have test data for the specific claim.
What about alcohol-based sprays?
Use PET or HDPE with a tested sprayer; some sanitizer formulas attack certain elastomers in the pump. Tell us the alcohol percentage and we will specify a compatible assembly.
Do you supply food-contact certificates?
Yes. For food and beverage jars we issue FDA-grade material declarations and can arrange third-party migration testing on request.
Send the formula, get a resin recommendation
Tell us the product, the pH range and whether it contains alcohol or solvents. We reply with one or two resin options and the cost difference.