What material are recycled plastic bags made of?

Nowadays it is essential to search sustainable solutions for our businesses. Plastic pollution has reached critical levels. To this end, an awareness campaign has already been launched about one of the best solutions to take care of our planet: the use of recycled plastic.

Made from reused materials, the white bags of ecological plastic represent a great step towards a more sustainable future. They have been with us for a very short time, which is why they are very unknown to some. How are they manufactured? What types can we buy? Discover what’s behind the bags you carry when you finish shopping.

The importance of using recycled plastic

Plastic constitutes about 12% of urban solid waste worldwide, according to a 2023 World Bank report. Therefore, in recent years, sustainability has made an impact on people and increasingly the use of recycled materials has become a global priority.

The custom plastic bags with logolike the ones you get in supermarkets, play a crucial role in this new change. Not only by reducing the amount of plastic, but also by not depending on fossil fuels.

Types of materials used in plastic bags

Although we think that plastic bags are made, of that, plastic… Nothing could be further from the truth. We can find different types, made with different materials:

Recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE)

It is the material that is most used when manufacturing this type of bags. It is characterized by being flexible, resistant and light, ideal for those in food businesses. According to Plastic Europe, the 17% of plastics recycled in Europe in 2022 they correspond to LDPE.

Recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

This material is characterized by its high strength and durability. Therefore, it is used for thicker bags, like those you get in clothing stores or with products that weigh a lot.

Recycled polypropylene (PP)

Recycled PP is a material that is gaining popularity due to its heat resistance and to chemicals. This type of plastic is used to make reusable and promotional bags.

How are recycled plastic bags made?

The recycling process

The process begins with the collection and classification of plastic waste. According to data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2022 9% of plastic was recycled generated worldwide.

Once all the plastics have been classified, they are washed to remove any trace of impurity and are crushed into small fragments until melted to create the pallets that will make the new recycled products.

Transformation into bags

Once the recycled plastic is in pellet form, it undergoes extrusion and molding processes to manufacture the bags. During this process, you can add additives to improve properties of the material, such as resistance or opacity, depending on the specific needs of the client.

What recycled plastic bags are suitable for a business?

Shops, little by little, are betting on incorporating recycled plastic into their bags. But where is it most used?

Custom bags

One of the benefits of recycled plastic bags is that they can be customized. Thus, they can design a unique product for your business, including the logo, slogan or whatever suits you best for effective marketing.

transparent bags

Widely used in supermarkets and food stores, transparent bags allow customers identify he content without the need to open them, a key feature in fresh products or packaging.

And the good thing? Which are made from recycled plastic.

Common myths about recycled plastic bags

Behind every product there are myths. Surely you have heard the following related to recycled plastic more than once.

Recycled bags are less resistant

No, recycled bags are just as resistant as ones made with plastic. In fact, thanks to the advancement of technology and the use of the above materials, recycled plastic bags can be of better quality than virgin plastic bags.

Recycled bags are more expensive

This is a half myth. Depends. Although the production cost may be slightly higher due to additional processes, the price of recycled bags has become more competitive in recent years. Furthermore, many companies consider this investment as a commitment to sustainability.

Sometimes cheap is expensive. And, on this occasion, the one who ends up paying for it on our planet.