Polypropylene Bags vs Polyethylene Bags: Principal Differences

Polypropylene bags (PP) and Polyethylene bags (PE) are two major plastic bag types. Both of these substances share many similarities as they are made from polymers. However, there are some significant contrasts between the two, making them different and unique from each other.

This article explains the critical dissimilarities between polypropylene bags and polythene bags to ensure that the buyers comprehend their characteristics, advantages, and limitations better.

Polypropylene Bags vs Polyethylene Bags

Both– polyethylene bags and polypropylene bags are easily found in retail operations for packaging purposes. However, PP bags are more durable and have more shelf life than PE bags. Besides, it has less reactivity with any of the liquid, making them instrumental in storing and carrying a wide range of food substances, including yogurt, ketchup, syrups, medicine, etc.

Another significant difference between them is chemical compatibility. Polypropylene bags have higher chemical resistance and higher melting point at room temperature than polyethylene bags– making them ideal for carrying hot contents. The higher resistance also makes PP bags suitable for food packaging applications.

Moreover, compared to polyethylene bags, Polypropylene bags are transparent. This characteristic makes PP bags easy to identify the content inside. On the other hand, PE bags forms a translucent film, and its opaque material makes it hard to identify the content inside.

The polypropylene bags are also highly resistant to corrosion and chemical leaching– the process of a solute becoming detached or extracted from its carrier substance by way of a solvent, which makes it ideal for storing various solvents, bases, and acids.

Compared to polypropylene bags, i.e. PP bags, polyethylene bags are translucent, making them an ideal packing material to store contents affected by sunlight. For the same reason, polyethylene bags are often used in museums to store ancient artefacts and archival contents.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) bag is a member of the polyethylene family with higher tensile strength than polypropylene bags (PP bags). For this reason, HDPE bags can hold up a large amount of weight without falling apart.

The last principal difference between polypropylene bags and polyethylene bags is the applications. Polypropylene are used to make soft-drinks’ and other bottles, automobile parts, hinges, ropes, rugs, erosion control mats, and roofing membranes.

On the other hand, polyethylene is vastly used in making plastic bags, geomembranes, and plastic sheets for construction projects.

These are the principal dissimilarities between PE bags and PP bags that distinguish them and make them unique in their own terms. Now let us learn which bag is better to use.

Which one is better: Polypropylene Bags Or Polyethylene Bags?

The answer to this question is solely depends on the applications or the uses.

If you want to store or transport heavy machinery or considerable weight, polyethene bags can be a good option. On the other hand, if you're going to transport or store a chemical material with high chemical compatibility, polypropylene bags can be the right choice.

Similarly, when you want to store and deliver agricultural products susceptible to moisture and heat, polypropylene bags should be preferred. In contrast, polyethylene (PE) bags should be favored for shopping bags and utility bags.