Why Every Business Should Care About the Properties of HDPE

Feb 03

Whether it’s for a plastic container or a trash bag, the properties of HDPE make it one of the most commonly used materials in the United States. Universally recognized as #2 plastic, HDPE can be found in plastic bags, can liners, milk jugs, as well as refillable plastic bottles. When recycled, the reliable properties of HDPE allow it to be transformed into valuable products like plastic furniture, plastic lumber, office products, garden products, crates, buckets, and automobile parts.

HDPE material boasts a vast number of properties that make it a very effective manufacturing and packaging solution. Best of all, recycled HDPE plastics and resins can take on an entirely new life in an endless range of products. Let’s take a closer look at the key properties of HDPE plastics that make it such a valuable material .

General Properties of HDPE Plastic Material

The general properties of HDPE material and plastics make it a highly valuable solution across virtually all industries. Because it’s stronger than regular polyethylene, HDPE remains solid at room temperatures and acts as a remarkable barrier against moisture.

Properties of HDPE include the ability to resist rot, insects and other chemicals without creating harmful emissions during use or in production. In addition, HDPE plastics do not leak toxic chemicals into the water or soil. Some of those desirable properties of polyethylene and HDPE material include:

Strength: HDPE resins and plastics are known for their exceptional strength-to-density, which represents the maximum stress a material can handle.
Impact resistance: HDPE plastic is regularly used in packaging applications as well as in boats because of its ability to resist impacts.
Resistance to corrosion: HDPE plastics boast the ability to resist corrosion, which reduces the need to worry about damages from chemical reactions and oxidation.
Versatility: HDPE is used across almost all markets, including golf courses, colleges, resorts, public venues, and much more.
Easy to clean: Another remarkable advantage of using HDPE plastics in manufacturing is its ability to quickly and easily be cleaned. In most applications, simple water and soap will restore the product back to its original glory.
Environmentally-friendly: The recyclability of HDPE plastics and resins means it can be used and used again. As a green material, HDPE is one of the most regularly recycled materials in the United States.
Maintenance-free material: Properties of HDPE include resistance to fading, moisture, salt spray, oil, warping, splinting, and other hazardous exposures commonly associated with damaging wood fiber composite products or wood products.
Efficient manufacturing process: The manufacturing of HDPE requires only a fraction of the energy required to engineer steel from iron ore, which further adds to the material’s environmentally friendliness.

Environmentally-Friendly Properties of HDPE

HDPE boasts a range of different factors that make it a sustainable material. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that approximately 28% of HDPE water bottles and milk jugs are recycled. HDPE is one of the easiest plastics to recycle with approximately 30 million tons being recycled every year to create a myriad of different products, including:

Rope
Playground equipment
Piping
Outdoor patio furniture
Automobile parts
Plastic lumber
And more

In the end, HDPE plastics are the most environmentally stable of all plastics — giving off no dangerous fumes into the environment. HDPE doesn’t contain heavy metals, BPA, allergens, or phthalates; and the use of HDPE materials can contribute toward satisfying LEED credits.

Why Should Businesses Use Recycled HDPE Resins?

If you’re looking for ways to create a competitive advantage for your business, using recycled HDPE resins or HDPE PCR resins could be a gargantuan step in the right direction. At AAA Polymer, we regularly connect our customers with reliable, high-quality HDPE PCR resins that can be used in an endless range of manufacturing solutions. And when you use PCR HDPE in your products and workflows, you can enjoy:

Cost savings: Using HDPE PCR resins can create a substantial cost savings over using virgin HDPE resins in manufacturing.
Reduced carbon footprint: Using recycled resins and plastics can slash your company’s carbon footprint by as much as 50%
Achieve organizational goals: Switching to PCR resins is a very effective way for your company to achieve its sustainability goals and initiatives.
Stand out in the market: Using PCR resins can help you create a competitive advantage and help your business stand out from the competition.
Increase profits: A Nielsen Global study suggests that 72% of Generation Z and 51% of Baby Boomers are more likely to pay more for products and services from organizations committed to making a positive impact.

In addition, using PCR HDPE resins in your company can be an excellent way to close the loop on your recycling programs.

Contact AAA Polymer for HDPE PCR Resins and HDPE Can Liners

At AAA Polymer, we offer HDPE PCR resins as well as a vast selection of the best HDPE trash bags, which are often a more cost-effective solution. We would love to discuss how we can help your business save money and create efficiencies by tapping into the properties of HDPE.

Contact AAA Polymer today.

About the Author

AAA Polymer, Inc. was founded in 1974, as a plastic resin and material trading company with an innovative vision to create a company to provide plastic recycling services for industrial/commercial businesses. If you have any questions, we're here for you. Just call us at 718.389.2498.