Many retail business owners opt for plastic polyethylene for their packaging material because it is very efficient. Its light weight makes it the perfect material for many types of industries. Did you know that you only need a couple of pounds of plastic for about 10 gallons of beverage? In comparison, you will need eight pounds of steel, three pounds of aluminum, or more than 40 pounds of glass for the same amount of liquid.
What is Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is one of the most popular kinds of plastic. It is a versatile material, as it can come in many physical properties. Plastic polyethylene packaging can be soft and pliable or hard and rigid. Soft and pliable films are often used for packaging and storing all sorts of products in the packaging industry.
Out of all the basic packaging plastics, polyethylene offers the lowest softening point—making it a more energy-efficient packaging material to produce. Its low-cost production makes it a very affordable packaging option, encouraging many retail business owners to prefer it over other types of plastics.
Different Types of Polyethylene
The most common types of polyethylene used in the packaging industry include high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).s
High-density polyethylene is the most commonly used type of plastic. It is used to make a variety of containers and bottles. It also offers easy processing, low cost, and an excellent moisture barrier. It can also be used to produce a translucent packaging product. And because of its moisture barrier properties, it is well-suited for products with a relatively short shelf life like milk.
Low-density polyethylene plastics are predominantly used in film applications because of their flexibility, relative transparency, and toughness. And when heating is necessary, LDPE is the perfect choice of plastic. It can also be used in cable and wire applications.
