Q&A

PE Bags FAQ

PE bags are plastic bags made of polyethylene (PE). Polyethylene is a thermoplastic resin made by polymerizing ethylene monomers. According to the different densities, PE can be divided into many types, the most common ones are low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). These different types of PE make PE bags have diverse characteristics and are suitable for various purposes.

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PE bags are used in a wide range of applications, covering all aspects of daily life. Common uses include:

  • Shopping bags: Lightweight and durable, a common choice for shops and supermarkets.
  • Garbage bags: have good leak-proofness and load-bearing capacity, suitable for household and commercial garbage disposal.
  • Food packaging: such as frozen food bags, bread bags, agricultural product packaging, etc. PE material is safe and non-toxic and meets food contact standards.
  • Industrial packaging: Used to package building materials, chemicals, electronic components, etc. to provide moisture resistance and protection.
  • Agricultural uses: Such as seedling bags, agricultural films, etc., which help crop growth and protection.
  • Medical supplies packaging: such as medical waste bags, disposable gloves packaging, etc.

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Advantage:

  • Lightweight and soft: Easy to carry and store.
  • Good moisture resistance: Can effectively block moisture and protect the contents.
  • Chemical Resistance: Good resistance to most acids, bases and salts.
  • High transparency (LDPE): Easy to observe the contents.
  • Cost-effective: Compared with other packaging materials, the production cost of PE bags is low.
  • Recyclability: Most PE bags are recyclable, which helps protect the environment (subject to local recycling policies).

Shortcoming:

  • Poor heat resistance: Not suitable for high temperature environment and easily deformed or melted when exposed to high temperature.
  • High oxygen permeability: Not suitable for items that need to be completely isolated from the air (if oxygen blocking is required, it is usually combined with other materials).
  • Relatively weak puncture resistance: Compared to some stronger plastics, it is easily punctured by sharp objects.
  • Environmental impact: If not handled properly, discarded PE bags may cause environmental pollution, such as the problem of marine plastic waste.

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PE bags themselves are recyclable. However, whether PE bags are environmentally friendly depends on their production process, usage and final disposal.

  • Production: Environmental impact can be reduced by optimizing production processes and using recycled materials.
  • Usage: It is recommended to reuse PE bags and reduce single-use.
  • Recycling: Most areas have recycling programs for PE plastics (usually marked as "2" or "4" in the plastic category). Proper sorting and recycling can turn discarded PE bags into new plastic products, reducing dependence on new raw materials and reducing the amount of waste.

However, if PE bags are not properly recycled but discarded at will, they will become a source of environmental pollution, especially posing a threat to marine ecology. Therefore, after choosing to use PE bags, correct recycling classification is crucial.

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Different types of PE bags differ in appearance and feel:

  • LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene):

         1. Appearance: Relatively transparent, high gloss.

         2. Touch: Soft, flexible, waxy to the touch.

         3. Sound: The sound is lower when rubbing.

         4. Uses: Commonly used in plastic wrap, shopping bags, garbage bags, bread bags, etc.

  • HDPE (High Density Polyethylene):

         1. Appearance: Translucent, more matte or milky white, with low gloss.

         2. Touch: Hard, brittle, with a rustling sound.

         3. Sound: The sound is loud and crisp when rubbing.

         4. Uses: Commonly used in plastic bags, garbage bags, supermarket shopping bags (vest bags), milk bottles, shampoo bottles, etc.

  • LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene):

         1. Appearance: Between LDPE and HDPE, with good transparency.

         2. Touch: It has better stretchability, puncture resistance and toughness, and is tougher than LDPE.

         3. Uses: Commonly used in heavy packaging bags, garbage bags, agricultural films, cling film, frozen food packaging, etc.

Usually, a recycling symbol and a numerical code are printed on the bottom of plastic products, with LDPE corresponding to number 4 and HDPE corresponding to number 2. If there is no label, you can make a preliminary judgment based on the appearance and feel mentioned above.

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