Here at Tufbag, we manufacture both polypropylene and polyethylene bags. However, while their names might sound similar, the difference between these two products is fairly significant.
Although one is not necessarily better than the other, they each serve distinct purposes.
Let’s review the intended uses, cost, durability, and environmental considerations for these two types of plastic bags.
Material Properties
Polyethylene bags are known for their flexibility and are highly resistant to both moisture and chemicals. These bags are frequently used to package food and a variety of other retail products, owing to their ability to keep items dry and safe from contamination. This makes them great as moisture proof liners.
On the other hand, polypropylene bags are better known for their stiffness and strength. The rigidity and strength attributed to polypropylene make it an ideal material for creating woven bulk bags, which are extremely strong and capable of handling heavy items.
The robustness of polypropylene is ideal for heavy-duty shipping and transportation, while the flexibility and impermeability of polyethylene make it an ideal lining material.
When used together, both of these materials can be highly effective in keeping bulk goods safe, dry, and free from contamination.
Durability
As mentioned, polypropylene bags are renowned for their strength and durability, making them ideal for heavy-duty items. Polypropylene is resistant to UV degradation and can also resist perishing from exposure to the air or moisture, making it a highly reusable material ideal for the transportation of bulk materials.
These bags can withstand high temperatures without deforming and can resist the many stresses placed upon them during heavy handling.
On the other hand, while polyethylene bags are also durable, they are not as strong as polypropylene. However, they are more flexible, which makes them suitable for products that require more flexibility during handling.
Environmental Impact
Both polyethylene and polypropylene bags are non-biodegradable, which means that they cannot be discarded without creating some degree of pollution, even in landfills.
However, thankfully, both polyethylene and polypropylene bags are recyclable if one has access to the right kind of recycling facility. Unfortunately, in many recycling facilities, they refuse to accept polyethylene bags because they can clog machines up.
That said, numerous modern recycling facilities have been popping up that can handle this type of material.
Polypropylene, on the other hand, is more friendly to recycling machinery and can therefore be recycled more easily. Additionally, polypropylene is inherently more able to be reused multiple times.
The reusability of polyethylene bags is not as widely accepted, owing to their regular contamination from the materials packaged inside.
Here at Tufbag, we manufacture both liners and Polypropylene Woven Bags. If you are looking for high-quality polyethylene bags to line your bulk bags and provide support for your business’s shipping and storage needs, then contact us at Tufbag today.