Polyethylene Packaging Film

What is Polyethylene?

Polyethylene - or polythene as we call it in the UK - is the world’s most common plastic. It’s the soft, flexible film used for bread bags, produce bags, bin liners, bubble wrap, and countless other everyday packaging applications. If you’ve ever used a poly bag, it was almost certainly polyethylene.

We supply LDPE (low density polyethylene) - the soft, flexible variant that’s the standard choice for polythene bags and packaging film in the UK. There are other types - LLDPE is stronger, HDPE is stiffer - but LDPE is the general-purpose workhorse.

Types of Polyethylene

Polyethylene comes in several variants. The main three are:

	LDPE	LLDPE	HDPE
Feel	Soft, flexible	Soft but stronger	Stiff, crinkly
Clarity	Good	Good	Translucent
Puncture resistance	Moderate	Excellent	Good
Typical uses	Poly bags, liners, wrapping	Stretch wrap, heavy-duty bags	Carrier bags, bottles

LDPE is what most people mean when they say “polythene” - soft, easy to seal, and good clarity. It’s the standard for food packaging, mailing bags, and general-purpose poly bags.

What We Supply

We convert LDPE at our UK facility into reels, bags, and sheets to your specification.

All conversion is done in-house - custom sizes, printing up to 10 colours, and features like resealable strips on bags.

Applications

LDPE’s combination of flexibility, toughness, and low cost makes it suitable for a wide range of packaging applications.

In food packaging, you’ll find LDPE used for bread bags, fresh produce bags, and frozen food packaging. PE maintains its flexibility at low temperatures - it won’t crack or become brittle in the freezer.

For industrial applications, LDPE provides heavy-duty sacks for aggregates and powders, machine covers, dust sheets, and box liners. Thicker gauges handle rough treatment and sharp edges.

Other common uses include mailing bags, magazine wrapping, garment covers, and protective packaging.

Choosing Between PE and Other Films

BOPP is stiffer, clearer, and has better barrier properties - the premium choice for retail presentation. PE is softer, tougher, and cheaper. If you need crisp and clear, go BOPP. If you need soft and tough, go PE.

CPP sits between BOPP and LDPE - softer than BOPP but stiffer than PE, with better clarity. CPP is often used as a sealant layer in laminates rather than as a standalone film.

Paper is perceived as more sustainable but often has higher environmental impact when you account for weight, transport, and end-of-life. PE provides better moisture protection and is genuinely recyclable.

Thickness Guide

PE film thickness is typically specified in microns (μm). Here’s a rough guide:

Thickness	Description	Typical Uses
20-30μm	Very light	Bread bags, produce bags, magazine wrap
30-50μm	Light duty	General poly bags
50-80μm	Medium duty	Retail bags, light industrial
80-120μm	Heavy duty	Industrial sacks, pallet covers
120-200μm	Extra heavy duty	Construction, DPM
200μm+	Specialist	Heavy-duty industrial

Thickness affects strength, clarity, and cost. Thicker film is stronger but more expensive and less flexible. We can advise on the right gauge for your application.

Recyclable Polythene

Polyethylene is fully recyclable, but most UK councils don’t collect flexible plastics kerbside. The solution is front-of-store collection points at major supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Co-op and others all accept soft plastics including poly bags, bread bags, and plastic film.

This means LDPE packaging can carry the OPRL label “Recycle with bags at larger stores” - an important consideration for brands concerned about packaging sustainability. The collected material is recycled into new products, not downcycled.

Food Grade Polyethylene

LDPE is approved for direct food contact - it’s chemically inert with no migration of harmful substances. Our film is EU 10/2011 compliant and FDA approved. We can provide food-grade certification and compliance documentation on request.

Working With Us

LDPE is made to order - we’ll convert to your specification. If you’re not sure what thickness or width you need, give us a call. We’ll talk through your application and recommend the right specification.

For large or ongoing requirements, our stockholding service lets you secure pricing and availability while calling off smaller quantities as needed.