Material Glossary: 20 materials you'll find on a product page
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Polyresin, PMMA, TPR, hard PVC: what do these actually mean? Twenty materials from our range in plain language, and what they mean for cleaning, heat, and shipping weight.
On a product page, it says "polyresin". Or "PMMA", "TPR", "EVA", "hard PVC". You see a picture of something black and shiny and you have no idea if you'll be holding something made of stone, plastic, or cast resin. Yet that very word determines whether it can go in the dishwasher, how much it weighs in your shipping box, whether it can withstand cold, and whether it will still be intact after a year.
Below are the twenty materials you most frequently encounter in our assortment, described in plain language. No chemistry, just what you need to know when you click "add to cart."
Paper, cardboard, and bamboo
Corrugated cardboard is cardboard with a fluted layer in between. This flute provides strength. Shipping boxes are almost always made of it, such as the Cardboard Shipping Box 15x15x15 cm (€1.99). Solid board has no flute and is thinner: you use it for small boxes and displays, not to protect a package.
Kraft paper is unbleached paper, recognizable by its brown color. Paper in thin form is found in disposable items like Flexible Colored Paper Straws (€1.95): lightweight, inexpensive, and intended for single use.
Bamboo is a type of grass, not wood, but behaves like wood: sturdy, light, and with its own grain. Bamboo Straws 20 cm (€2.99) remain firm in a drink where paper would soften. Wood itself is mainly seen as a component: the base of the Black Jewelry Rack with Wooden Base (€20.00) provides weight and stability that metal alone cannot.
Plastics: from film to hard cup
PE (polyethylene) is the soft, flexible plastic used for films and bags. Bubble wrap on a roll, 500 mm x 500 m (€12.95) is the best-known example: air between two layers of film.
PP (polypropylene) is slightly harder and more heat-resistant; you'll find it in lids, containers, and as the carrier for many tapes, such as the KINZO Packaging Tape 50 meters x 48 mm (€3.00). PET is the clear, hard plastic used for bottles.
PVC comes in two varieties. Soft PVC is flexible, hard PVC is sturdy and does not break easily, as seen in the Sport and Coffee Cup Hard PVC 500 ml (€9.95). Hard PVC is lightweight and not easily broken - but check the product page to see if it can withstand high temperatures before putting it in the dishwasher.
Acrylic (also known as PMMA or plexiglass) resembles glass: clear and glossy, but much lighter and it doesn't shatter easily. It does scratch more easily than glass. The Transparent Acrylic Stair Display with 6 steps (€34.95) is made of it: on the counter, it looks like glass without the risk.
Silicone is soft, stretchy, and retains its shape. It generally tolerates cold and heat well, making it suitable for molds and bands like the Rainbow Silicone Wristbands, set of 6 (€4.95). TPE and TPR are soft plastics that resemble silicone but are more porous: they feel more velvety and require more attention when cleaning.
Glass is heavy, barely scratches, and does not absorb odor or taste. Disadvantage: it breaks, which makes shipping more expensive because it requires more protection.
Ceramics is the collective term for fired clay. Porcelain is the finest, thinnest, and hardest variety; earthenware is thicker and more porous. A Ceramic Mug with Thermal Effect, 470 ml (€5.00) therefore feels heavier than a porcelain mug of the same size.
Metal is often a collective term on a product page. Stainless steel is the variant that does not rust and can withstand soap and water - like the Stainless Steel Mixing Spoon, 4 pieces (€9.95). Aluminum is remarkably light. Zinc alloy is widely used for cast small objects: keychains, buckles, fasteners. A Metal Display Holder for Keychains (€17.95) or a Metal Sign (€19.95) are sheet metal: thin, stiff, and light.
Castings, faux leather, and textiles
Polyresin is cast synthetic resin, often with a filler added. This gives weight and sharp details, making it feel like stone or ceramic. You'll find it in figurines and objects with intricate shapes, such as the Bottle Opener with Magnet Polyresin 12.5 cm (€9.95). If you drop it, it's more likely to chip than bend.
Enamel is a glassy layer baked onto metal - the colored areas in pins and brooches. Faux leather (also called PU) is fabric with a plastic top layer: it looks like leather, is lighter, and cannot withstand too much heat. Neoprene is the rubber-like foam you know from wetsuits: thick, flexible, and warm. Polyester and nylon are synthetic fibers for textiles: wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying. Cotton is the natural fiber: breathes better, wrinkles faster.
Three questions to ask about every material
How do I clean it? Porous and soft materials require more attention than smooth glass or stainless steel. Check if the product page mentions dishwasher or hand wash.
What happens in heat or cold? Plastic and faux leather have limits; glass, ceramics, and metal much less so.
How much does it weigh? Polyresin, ceramics, and glass are heavy and fragile. This counts double if you have to ship it: more weight and more padding.
In short
The material name on a product page is not a minor detail - it's the quickest way to see if something suits your use. Light and unbreakable, or heavy and luxurious. Disposable or long-lasting. Dishwasher safe or not. If you have two similar products side by side, the material is usually the difference you feel in your hand.
Get started yourself
Look around in Packaging & Shipping for cardboard, film, and tape, in Kitchenware and Glasses for glass, ceramics, and stainless steel, in Straws for paper, bamboo, and plastic side by side, and in Storage for wood, metal, and plastic. If an item doesn't list a material and you want to know before ordering? Email us at info@verpakkingdeals.nl - we will check with the supplier.
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