HDPE vs. LDPE: What’s the Difference?

HDPE and LDPE are both a result of polymerization of polyethylene. This chemical process causes monomers to connect into long chains of hydrocarbons. As these chains form, strands branch off into other directions. The branching pattern determines the strength and density of the material. 

More branching strands equals a more dense material, like HDPE. 

Fewer strands equals a less dense polyethylene, or LDPE. 

Other types of polyethylene, like MDPE and LLDPE, are similarly determined by the branching pattern that results from polymerization. 

Put simply, HDPE and LDPE differ in density, which makes HDPE more suitable for applications where strength is most important, but LDPE more valuable for applications that need flexibility.

HDPE: High Density Polyethylene

High density polyethylene is much more dense than LDPE, due to the branching structure of the polymer chain. This makes HDPE more durable and more resistant to punctures or tears, but less flexible than LDPE. HDPE is commonly used for heavy-duty packaging for bulk or blunt-edged products or to make opaque plastic containers. 

Uses of HDPE Poly Bags

HDPE poly bags are ideal for irregularly shaped products, heavy products, or sharp items. They are commonly used for packaging:

• Construction materials like cement or sand
• Bulk dry goods like rice or grain
• Auto parts and tools

LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene

Low density polyethylene may not be as strong as HDPE, but that doesn’t mean it’s less useful or valuable. LDPE is less dense because of the increased space between the few branches that form during polymerization, which makes it incredibly flexible. LDPE also has better clarity than more dense polyethylene materials, so it can be used as an attractive packaging option that lets customers easily see what’s inside. And, LDPE is easy to tear, which is a strength when packaging must be easy to open.

Uses of LDPE Poly Bags

LDPE is ideal for applications that require a lightweight, attractive packaging option. A few uses for LDPE poly bags include packaging:

• Small parts
• Food items
• Pallet covers
• Grocery and produce bags

HDPE vs. LDPE Poly Bags: Which is Best for My Product Packaging?

Knowing the differences between HDPE vs. LDPE and the advantages they offer can help you decide which is the best fit for your needs. To help determine which poly bag qualities are essential for your application, consider the following questions:

• Use: How will the poly bag be used?
• Size: How big is the product that the poly bag will carry?
• Strength: How thick should it be to hold and protect your product?
• Durability: How long does it need to last?
• Branding: Will the poly bag need to support custom branding?
• Disposal: Will the poly bag need to be disposed of or recycled?

When ordering your custom poly bags, the supplier will want to know the answer to these questions to develop the ideal bag type and style for you. 

Whether you need HDPE or LDPE poly bags, A-Pac Manufacturing can help. From custom poly bags to standard orders in a low quantity, we’re here to fulfill any order on your timeline. Give our team a call for more information. 

Reducing packaging waste is not only great for the environment, but also for saving your company money. Let’s look at 5 ways you can reduce packaging waste for your business.

#1 Reduce Packaging Waste with Minimal Material

A great way to reduce packaging waste is to only use as large of a bag as you need. Choose the right size bag for your product by carefully measuring the minimum dimensions and work with your supplier to design a minimalist package. 

If you package products of different sizes, then use packaging in varied sizes as well. A box that is too large will be more expensive to ship, and generate more waste when it’s not filled to capacity.

#2 Use Recyclable Plastic for Packaging Materials

Recyclable plastic packaging is significantly lighter than plastic alternatives such as cardboard or paper; Less material can be used to produce it, which is less to go to waste. By switching to plastic packaging with poly bags, you can reduce the amount of waste your company produces for packaging and save on shipping costs — when the bags are delivered to your facility and when your packaged products are sent to your customers.

Poly bags are the most efficient packaging material thanks to their strength-to-weight ratio. If you’re looking to save on packaging costs, you simply can’t go lighter than plastic. 

#3 Protect Your Products to Limit Returns

Use protective packaging when the product quality demands it. If you cut too much packaging and your products are less protected and more likely to fail, you’ll end up spending and wasting more in the long run. Shipping your product once is less waste than having to reship it due to product failure or return.

#4 Train Employees to Reduce Packaging Waste

Training ensures your employees know how to package items correctly and with minimal waste. Employees should know which packaging materials are used for different products, and which materials are not appropriate for certain products.

Consider starting initiatives with your packaging team to make the process more efficient. Encourage employees to innovate ways to reduce packaging waste through using fewer packaging materials, reusing loose filling, or recycling damaged materials. 

#5 Offer Bulk Shipping Options

Bulk shipping is cost-effective for both you and your customers. Shipping larger amounts generates less waste than shipping small quantities more frequently. You can incentivize this by providing a slight loyalty discount for customers who purchase larger orders.

Also, try to ship orders in as few packages as possible to reduce packaging waste. If expediency is too important, offer the option to your customers to receive their package sooner (in more shipments) or to wait until it can be shipped in one, reducing packaging waste and their carbon footprint.

Work with a Custom Poly Bag Supplier

Poly bags offer a great way to reduce packaging waste. They’re lightweight, thin, and endlessly customizable to your unique product and application. If you’re looking to reduce packaging waste, poly bags might just be the option for you. Give us a call or contact us online to learn more about our custom poly bag options.

Reducing packaging waste is not only great for the environment, but also for saving your company money. Let’s look at 5 ways you can reduce packaging waste for your business.

#1 Reduce Packaging Waste with Minimal Material

A great way to reduce packaging waste is to only use as large of a bag as you need. Choose the right size bag for your product by carefully measuring the minimum dimensions and work with your supplier to design a minimalist package. 

If you package products of different sizes, then use packaging in varied sizes as well. A box that is too large will be more expensive to ship, and generate more waste when it’s not filled to capacity.

#2 Use Recyclable Plastic for Packaging Materials

Recyclable plastic packaging is significantly lighter than plastic alternatives such as cardboard or paper; Less material can be used to produce it, which is less to go to waste. By switching to plastic packaging with poly bags, you can reduce the amount of waste your company produces for packaging and save on shipping costs — when the bags are delivered to your facility and when your packaged products are sent to your customers.

Poly bags are the most efficient packaging material thanks to their strength-to-weight ratio. If you’re looking to save on packaging costs, you simply can’t go lighter than plastic. 

#3 Protect Your Products to Limit Returns

Use protective packaging when the product quality demands it. If you cut too much packaging and your products are less protected and more likely to fail, you’ll end up spending and wasting more in the long run. Shipping your product once is less waste than having to reship it due to product failure or return.

#4 Train Employees to Reduce Packaging Waste

Training ensures your employees know how to package items correctly and with minimal waste. Employees should know which packaging materials are used for different products, and which materials are not appropriate for certain products.

Consider starting initiatives with your packaging team to make the process more efficient. Encourage employees to innovate ways to reduce packaging waste through using fewer packaging materials, reusing loose filling, or recycling damaged materials. 

#5 Offer Bulk Shipping Options

Bulk shipping is cost-effective for both you and your customers. Shipping larger amounts generates less waste than shipping small quantities more frequently. You can incentivize this by providing a slight loyalty discount for customers who purchase larger orders.

Also, try to ship orders in as few packages as possible to reduce packaging waste. If expediency is too important, offer the option to your customers to receive their package sooner (in more shipments) or to wait until it can be shipped in one, reducing packaging waste and their carbon footprint.

Work with a Custom Poly Bag Supplier

Poly bags offer a great way to reduce packaging waste. They’re lightweight, thin, and endlessly customizable to your unique product and application. If you’re looking to reduce packaging waste, poly bags might just be the option for you. Give us a call or contact us online to learn more about our custom poly bag options.

What are the Benefits of Using Gusseted Poly Bags?

• Gusseted poly bags can stand upright on their own. Because they have flat bottoms, gusseted poly bags can stand upright without support when they are filled, which is great for displaying and storing without worrying about spilling. This also keeps the product in a stable position and makes packing a breeze.  
• Gusseted poly bags take up less space. Though you can fit more in them, gusseted poly bags actually take up less space on a shelf than other types of packaging, which means you can store and display (and sell) more product. 
• Gusseted poly bags are versatile. They are flexible and come in all shapes and sizes so it’s easy to find one that fits your needs.
• Gusseted poly bags are portable. Since they are made of lightweight material, and the weight of their contents is distributed evenly, gusseted poly bags are easy to carry and move from place to place — a bonus for both your business and your customer. 

5 Common Uses for Gusseted Poly Bags

With all the benefits gusseted poly bags provide, it’s no wonder businesses are opting for this type of packaging more and more. Their strength, versatility, and ability to expand make them ideal for a number of packaging needs. Here are 5 of the most common uses for gusseted poly bags: 

01. Food Packaging

One of the main uses for gusseted poly bags is the packaging of various types of food. Gusseted bags are perfect for bulk candy, nuts, coffee, meat products, baked goods like bread, bagels, rolls, and cookies, and even ice.

02. Packaging of Bulky Products

With their ability to expand and the variety of shapes and sizes they come in, gusseted poly bags offer a great packaging solution for businesses with products that are large, bulky, or oddly shaped. 

03: Packaging of Multiple Loose Items

From hardware like nuts and bolts and nails to arts and craft supplies, hospital and vet medications, or even agricultural items like grain and feed, if your business needs to package multiple loose items together, gusseted poly bags can solve your packaging needs. 

04: Protective Storage

If you need to cover products stored on pallets, gusseted poly bags have got you covered. They are more cost-effective than pallet tarps, can accommodate large sizes, and their strength offers optimum protection. You can also use them for box liners to keep products clean and safe.

05: Packaging Items on the Move

Gusseted poly bags can be used to protect things like mattresses from dirt and moisture when storing, displaying, or moving. They also make great grab-and-go “t-shirt bags” like the kind you see at grocery stores with handles that resemble sleeves on a shirt. 

Because they’re lightweight, easy to carry, and hold all shapes and sizes of products, gusseted poly bags used in this manner are the perfect packaging solution for groceries, restaurant take-out, retail clothing, and more. 

Where Can You Get Top-Quality Gusseted Poly Bags?

Gusseted poly bags have a range of applications. From small products to large or bulky ones, there’s a gusseted poly bag perfect for packaging it, and A-Pac has just what you need! We are committed to providing the best quality poly bags on the market and will help you determine what will work best for your packaging needs. From there, we can custom-manufacture the bag that’s best suited for your application. Looking for an affordable yet high-quality packaging solution? Reach out to A-Pac today to learn how we can help.   

How Poly Bags Are Made

If you’re considering poly bag packaging for your new product, it’s easy to see why! Poly bags are versatile, durable, and affordable. They’re also easy to customize to fit your product, as well as your brand, and their speedy production is perfect when you’re faced with a short lead time. 

It’s no wonder so many people choose poly bags for their packaging needs, but have you ever wondered how poly bags can feature so many great characteristics, yet be produced so quickly? Here’s a closer look at how poly bags are made. 

How Poly Bags are Made, Phase 1: Extrusion

Making poly bags starts with what’s called the blown-film extrusion process. This entails melting down small plastic pellets (resin) until they become molten and pliable enough to be pressed, or extruded, through a circular die gap. 

This extrusion forms a continuous tube of molten plastic that gets pinched off on one end and inflated to whatever size and thickness desired. The inflated tube is stretched vertically on a tower to cool, then flattened and wound onto a roll. Now it’s ready to be transformed into poly bags.

How Poly Bags are Made, Phase 2: Transformation

Once the blown-film extrusion process is complete and the plastic is on the roll, it can be fed through a machine that cuts and seals the plastic at a specified length, creating a poly bag. This process is repeated until enough poly bags are made to fulfill the order. 

Poly Bags are Made to Help You Succeed

Because poly bags are made in such a way that they can meet varying specifications of sizes and thickness, they can accommodate pretty much any packaging design and need. That means, no matter the size or shape of your new product, or how it’s transported and where, you can depend on the poly bag packaging to protect it. A product that goes from shelf to customer undamaged not only boosts customer satisfaction but also boosts your bottom line by reducing product failure and returns. 

In addition, the processes of extrusion, rolling, and cutting use automated machinery, allowing poly bags to be made efficiently and precisely, with very little waste. This saves time as well as money — a must for small to mid-sized businesses with ambitious revenue goals.  

Poly bags are also a cost-effective solution to display detailed branding logos and text, especially when compared to other packaging materials available on the market.

Finally, poly bags score major points for their fast turnaround time, too — a huge bonus when deadlines are looming, and often a key factor in a successful product launch.  

Why A-Pac Poly Bags Rank Above the Rest

Now you know how poly bags are made as well as what makes them such a great choice for packaging. The only thing left to do is find out where to get them! A-Pac prides itself on delivering the best-quality poly bags on the market, and can custom-manufacture your poly bags to any size, weight, and even quantity — no minimum order required! 

As a fellow small to mid-sized business, we understand your needs and will take the time to get to know you, your product, and your goals, then help you find the custom packaging solution that makes the most sense for you. 

For the best poly bags at an affordable price and on your timeline, A-Pac Manufacturing is here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our poly bag options. All of our orders are custom to your specifications. We want to help you succeed.

What are Wicketed Poly Bags?

Wicketed poly bags are plastic bags designed to fit on a wicket wire, so they can be loaded quickly and efficiently with automated packaging equipment. When packed together, a blower can easily open these high clarity bags on one end to place products inside.

Wicketed bags streamline your packaging operations by reducing handling time and increasing the rate at which you can produce, package, and ship your products.

Wicketed Poly Bag Materials

Wicketed poly bags can be made of a variety of materials, including:

• LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
• LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
• Metallocene
• VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor)
• EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate)

Common Applications for Wicketed Poly Bags

Wicketed poly bags are found in many applications, packaging food to auto parts. Here are a few common examples of products that use this convenient product.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Food Packaging

These bags keep debris, moisture, and pests away from food items so they reach their shipping destination safely and stay fresh for the consumer. Made of durable, food-grade material, wicketed poly bags are one of the most cost effective, convenient food packaging solutions.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Bread Bags

Poly bags protect bread from moisture and contaminants. When packed on a wicket, production rates increase, so facilities can move items faster and deliver fresher bread items.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Produce

Lightweight and durable, wicketed bags are perfect for effectively packaging your produce while keeping costs low. High clarity poly bags make it easy to see what’s in the bag, and the wicket makes the bags more convenient for customers to use.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Pan Covers

Poly bags on a wicket are a great, low cost option for wrapping trays or pans individually, rather than covering an entire rack. In addition to keeping food fresh and protected from contamination, wicketed poly bags are easy to store and access for quick use.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Parts, Components, and Hardware

Wicketed poly bags are commonly used for packaging small parts for transit and display. The puncture-resistant poly bags protect the parts from moisture and abrasion, and make organizing and shipping small items faster and easier.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Your Application

Wicketed poly bags can be ordered in custom sizes, colors, and materials. They can even support custom branding. As a convenient, low cost option, wicketed poly bags can save your company money by speeding up your production and packaging process.

If you’re interested in exploring these versatile poly bags for your application, A-Pac Manufacturing is here to help. With high-quality, custom poly bags and no minimum orders, we’ve got the wicketed poly bags you need, exactly when you need them. Give us a call for more information.