The Invisible but Important Support: Plastic Multi Layer Bags
In today’s world, there is nothing more widely and frequently used product than polyethylene or multi-layer bags popularly known as plastic bags. One cannot imagine life without plastic. It has become so embedded in our life that however environmental conscious we become, there is no way around using plastic.
Multi-layer bags or plastic bags protect the contents from various environmental factors like rain and dust. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is most commonly used for making plastic bags. For waterproofing solutions also, multi-layer bags are a very good choice. These are reliable and cost-effective, and protect the contents by keeping them in the same condition as it was when packed. LDPE Bags are widely used in day today life and also in different industries like automobiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals and garment for packing purposes. Available in various sizes, these bags can be customized as per the requirement.
Advantages
- Reliable and cost-effective
- Waterproof and dustproof
- Flexible, yet strong
- Chemical & corrosion resistant
- They are translucent or opaque with lower tensile strength.
- A preferred form of food-grade packaging material for liquids like juice and milk
Manufactures today also employ the same method to make LDPE that was used in 1933 to manufacture low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as the first grade of polythene. This method involves using a high-pressure process via free radical polymerization. These bags are translucent or opaque, quite flexible yet tough and with lower tensile strength and have high resilience.
Although there are many competing products, the demand for multi-layer bags is still very strong in today’s market.
The food-grade ability of LDPE bags has ended the search for a cheap reliable packaging solution for both dry and wet food products. The Multi-Layer Bags are a preferred form of food-grade packaging material for liquids like juice and milk. The cartons are made of liquid packaging board, which is a laminate of paperboard and LDPE as the waterproof inner and outer layer, and often with a layer of aluminum foil, thus making it an aseptic packaging.
Disadvantages
- It’s not biodegradable.
- These threaten life in the water bodies, affecting the marine eco-system.
- They cause drain clogging.
- These are harmful to animals if swallowed while eating food items.
- Low-grade colorful LDPE bags contain lead and cadmium, which are toxic to store food items.
- If burned in the open air, hydrogen cyanide is released which is carcinogenic.
As of now, recycling is a practical solution to combat the negative effects of plastic. LDPE bags users need to be educated more about recycling for the sake of not only the environment but also because it makes more economic and production sense to recycle and reuse rather than process more and more.