HDPE vs LDPE Comparison

HDPE

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) is the most used type of plastic and is frequently made into packaging, specifically bottles. Some great properties about HDPE include that it is resistant to fading, moisture and warping, easy to process and manufacture, lightweight and strong. HDPE is a highly desireable plastic for use in automotive products, personal care products, household cleaning products, food and beverage products and in the pet industry.

• Higher density
• Flexible, but more rigid
• Stronger
• Withstand higher temperatures
• Lower resilience
• Is generally Opaque
• Recycled under:

LDPE

LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) is a lightweight, flexible, transparent plastic material that has a good chemical resistance. Due to its low-cost, high-efficiency production process, LDPE is attractive for applications in food-safe bagging and waterproof packaging. Because of the ability of very thin sheets of LDPE to hold relatively high loads, it is used for popular products like grocery/garbage bags, juice containers and cling wrap, which are all made with LDPE.

• Lower density
• Softer, more flexible
• Weaker
• Not as resistant to higher temperatures
• Higher resilience
• Can be both translucent or opaque
• Recycled under:

• Outdoor Furniture
• Cutting Boards
• Playground Equipment
• Paint Buckets
• Watering Cans

• Plastic Bags
• Lunch Trays
• Milk Jugs
• Hard Hats
• Toys

• Flexible Packaging
• Fuel Tanks in Cars
• Underground Pipes
• Telecom Ducts
• Trash Cans

• Plastic Lumber/Composite Wood
• Boat Parts

• Plastic Lumber/ Composite Wood
• Garbage and Compost Bins
• Trash Can Liners and Bags

• Envelopes for Shipping or Mailing
• Furnishings
• Paneling

• Insulation on Electrical Cable
• Frozen Food Bags
• Container Lids
• Floor Tiles