EMSA has been combining its trademark quality with a responsibility towards people and the environment for over 65 years now, so labelling is a matter of course for EMSA’s household products. Most importantly, these labels refer the safety of the materials used.
There are all sorts of different kinds of plastic – such as melamine, silicon or polypropylene – each of which is suitable for different uses. So, by the same token, there are some which aren’t suitable for freezing but can be used in the dishwasher. That’s exactly why the labelling requirement is so important.
Which kinds of plastics are normally found in the kitchen? Most flasks are made of PET and most packaging is made of PE. The exact name of the plastic isn’t usually printed or written on the centre of the product. Instead, a triangular symbol with an abbreviation or a number indicates which material has been used.
How to use “hot” kitchen utensils safely: this video clip (German consumer protection) offers some simple tips on how to use plastic kitchen utensils and tableware.
Consumers must be able to tell whether a plastic food storage container is, say, suitable for use in the microwave and which temperature ranges it can be exposed to. This information must be displayed clearly and legibly, usually appearing in the form of symbols, or more specifically, pictograms (for instance in the form of a dishwasher or a freezer star).
Why is this necessary? Upwards of a certain temperature range, hazardous substances can be released. It is important not to let these harmful substances enter food, or to make sure that only small quantities below the permitted limits are allowed.
The thing that initially looks like a rounded triangle consisting of three (often green) arrows, is actually known as the recycling code. It basically has two functions: on the one hand, it ensures that packaging is recycled properly and thus helps recycling companies to correctly classify and utilise the material. On the other hand, the code can also be helpful for consumers who are using food packaging or deciding whether to buy items such as tableware made from plastic. In the middle of the triangle mentioned above, there is a number that indicates the material used for the item or the packaging. Another abbreviation is used to indicate the exact type of material used.
The respective meanings of the plastic recycling codes are provided in this overview (German). Here you can see that the codes 01 to 06 are each assigned to a certain type of plastic. The recycling code 07 “O” stands for “other plastics”.
Among the products that the 07 code refers to are the CLIP & CLOSE food storage containers from EMSA. This is because various plastics are used to make them: PP = polypropylene (05) for the main body of the container and the lid, and TPE = thermoplastic elastomers (07) for the seal – and both of these materials are completely safe.
Even though it is voluntary for the manufacturer to display the recycling code, EMSA uses the recycling code on its products to make sure consumers have all the information they need.
Dieser Code 07 trifft beispielsweise auf CLIP & CLOSE Frischhaltedosen von EMSA zu, da zur Herstellung verschieden Kunststoffe eingesetzt werden: PP = Polypropylen (05) für Körper und Deckel der Dose sowie TPE = Thermoplastische Elastomere (07) für die Dichtung – beide Kunststoffe sind absolut unbedenklich.
Auch wenn die Angabe der Recyclingcodes für Hersteller freiwillig ist: Im Sinne der Aufklärung der Verbraucher bringt EMSA den Recyclingcode auf seine Produkte auf.
The “BPA free” label often appears on items or products. But only a very small number of people know what BPA actually means – even the ones who paid attention in chemistry class.
As a matter of principle, EMSA does not use any BPA-based materials. Although these materials are allowed, their safety is disputed. By refraining from using BPA in its products, EMSA can ensure that all products that come into contact with food comply with the EU Directive 10/2011 (on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food).
The CLIP & CLOSE food storage containers, for example, are subjected to special monitoring and they are even specially certified for use with baby food.
Got it? Safe really is safe!
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