Analysis of Common Materials and Development Trends of Plastic Bags

As a convenient packaging carrier, plastic bags have been deeply integrated into daily life and industrial production. The choice of materials directly determines their performance, uses and environmental attributes. With the awakening of global environmental awareness and the tightening of policies, the plastic bag industry is transforming from traditional plastics to a green and sustainable direction, with material innovation and recycling becoming the core of development.

Currently, the most commonly used materials for plastic bags on the market are based on polyolefins, each with its own characteristics suitable for different scenarios.

Polyethylene (PE) is soft to the touch, has good toughness, and is inexpensive, with excellent moisture resistance, making it the mainstream choice for food liners and ordinary shopping bags. However, its barrier properties are relatively poor and it is not resistant to oil seepage.

Polypropylene (PP) has higher hardness, better transparency than PE, and can withstand temperatures exceeding 100°C. It is often used for microwave-safe packaging and high-transparency outer packaging, but it is prone to cracking at low temperatures.

Polyester (PET) is known for its high transparency, excellent gas barrier properties, and printability, and is often used as the outer layer material for high-end packaging such as nuts and snacks. Its disadvantage is that it is not resistant to high temperatures. In addition, composite materials achieve complementary properties through multi-layer lamination. 

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) boasts superior flexibility, excellent low-temperature resistance and strong sealing & waterproof performance, with a soft, smooth touch and good ductility that resists tearing. It is widely applied to food seal bags, soft handbags, maternal and baby product packaging, fresh-keeping films and shockproof packaging for its outstanding softness and airtightness.

The global wave of "plastic ban and restriction" policies has promoted the accelerated transformation of the plastic bag industry, and sustainable development has become a clear trend. At present, 127 countries have issued mandatory regulations related to plastic packaging recycling. Many regions such as China, the European Union and Canada have implemented strict plastic ban orders, forcing the popularization of degradable materials. Biodegradable plastics have become the mainstream alternative. Among them, polylactic acid (PLA) is made from corn and sugarcane, and can be completely degraded in 3-6 months under industrial composting conditions; PBAT has excellent flexibility and is often blended with PLA to improve practicality, which is widely used in takeaway, agricultural mulch and other fields.

Technological innovation and industrial upgrading have further broadened the development path. UCLEAN, as a professional manufacturer of flexible packaging bags, we are committed to exploring various new environmentally friendly materials. We can produce various types of biodegradable materials according to customer requirements, including bio-based environmentally friendly packaging materials such as bio-based PE and starch-based plastic, as well as biodegradable plastic packaging bag materials such as PLA+PBAT. We are also happy to develop new materials with our customers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any needs.