The Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Purchasing Poly Tubing Flat Plastic Bags for Long-Term Storage

From sacks of rubble to portions of food, we're all reliant on poly bags. 

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The global plastic bag and sack industry is worth a staggering $8.4 billion and is projected to grow to $18.5 billion over the next 6 years. Whether you work in construction, retail, or food service, poly bags are essential. They keep items safe and clean during shipping and distribution.

Let's dig a little deeper into what poly bags are and what you need to know about them.

What Are Poly Bags?

Poly bags are the bags we all take for granted, day in, day out. 

They're what sliced bread comes wrapped in. And at the other end of the scale, they're what bags of sand and stone chippings get delivered in when you're remodeling your backyard. 

Most poly bags are made of polyethylene. Polyethylene is a plastic that comes in different grades, depending on the application. It's the most common plastic on the planet, accounting for more than a third of all plastics produced.

The bottom line is this: if you've got something that needs bagging, there's probably a poly bag solution just waiting for you.

Poly Bag Materials

There are five common grades of poly bags. We're going to examine when you should use each type.  These poly bag types are:

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

All forms of polyethylene come from the same product - ethylene gas. As it polymerizes, it creates chains of hydrocarbons. These chains branch in different ways and create a variety of polyethylene materials.

High-density polyethylene has many chains of hydrocarbons. This makes it strong and dense, but less flexible than other types.

This makes it perfect for:

• Construction materials, like stone chippings 
• Auto parts with sharp or pointed edges
• Bulk quantities of dried foodstuff, like grains and pulses

It is also heat resistant to over 212°F/100°C.

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Low-density polyethylene is less strong but no less valuable than HDPE. 

It is crystal clear, which is perfect when you want customers to see exactly what's inside the package. It also tears easily, which is ideal for allowing customers easy access to what they've just bought.

These qualities make them perfect for flat poly bags on a roll that can be torn off as needed. They come in a range of sizes and are durable and convenient. They're also great as packaging materials for small items and for food sales.

Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

LLDPE is an even more flexible form of polyethylene, but this means that it is not as strong as LDPE.

It has a lower heat resistance and becomes hyper-flexible over 68°F (20°C). But it still has excellent chemical resistance, which makes it food-safe. Even though it is lighter and less dense than LDPE, it is stronger and more puncture resistant. 

They are typically used in the produce section where bags need to be strong but are not designed for long-term use. They are not as transparent as LDPE bags. 

Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE)

As you'll have guessed, medium-density polyethylene bags sit right between their high-density and low-density cousins.

They're in-between in terms of strength but are extremely hardwearing. They're great when you need a poly bag that will provide a moisture barrier during shipping.

Polypropylene (PP)

Moving away from the polyethylene family, polypropylene bags are less flexible but extremely clear. They're also food safe, making them perfect for displaying goods for sale. They're also suitable for hardware as they're tough to break.

They provide excellent protection against dust and moisture.

Types of Poly Bags

There are three main poly bag types. They are flat, gusseted, and reclosable. 

Flat Poly Bags

Flat poly bags are extremely versatile. They're ideal for food, electronics, hardware, and much more. They can come individually or on a roll for additional ease of use. 

Gusseted Poly Bags

Gusseted poly bags have extra material along the bottom. This allows the bag to stand when full, making packing and storage easier. It's also perfect when items like small bottles need to be stored upright.

Reclosable Zipper Bags

Available in both food and non-food grade, a reclosable poly bag offers your customer extra convenience. They give customers more options, and gusseted options allow goods to stand upright.

They also come in tamper-evident varieties that are perfect for law enforcement.

Colored Poly Bags

Are you looking to make your products pop on the shelf? Why not choose colored poly bags. They come in all the shades of the rainbow and are bound to draw the customer's eye.

For more information, please visit Poly Tubing Flat Plastic Bags for Long-Term Storage.

Poly Bags Mil Strength

Poly bags come in different thicknesses. Their strength increases as they get thicker. 

1 mil - very light, suitable for temporary storage, such as garbage bags

2 mil - most common thickness, used for products of light and medium weight

3 mil - the next level up, this offers more puncture resistance at an affordable price point

4 mil - this is suitable for items that need more puncture resistance

5 mil - most suitable for industrial settings

6 mil - the best level of puncture resistance, making it suitable for sharp and pointed items

Uses for Poly Bags

From food to shipping, let's explore the uses of poly bags. We've even thrown in a couple you might not have thought of!

Food Bags

Food bags come in a wide range of thicknesses, from 1 mil to 6 mil. But they also come in a variety of sizes. Whether you're selling tiny portions and need a 1.5 x 2 inch bag or need 20 x 24 bags for larger applications, food safe reclosable bags are the way to go.

Box Liners

Are you shipping frozen or fresh products?  Bin Liners have got you covered. They have the thickness to provide excellent puncture resistance and are available in a wide range of sizes.

They also make excellent pallet covers to provide extra protection in transit.

Mailer Bags

Customers hate getting items delivered in huge, oversized cardboard boxes. Instead, use poly bags for shipping.  Their toughness and durability make them ideal for a wide range of products. 

Some poly bags give you even more flexibility. They have a second adhesive strip that allows customers to return items with ease.

Ice Bags

A survey found that 51% of Americans buy 400 pounds of ice each year. If you're going to cash in on that stat, you need ice bags, stat!

They come in twist tie or wicketed options and offer high strength even at low temperatures.

Poly Tubing

There's no need to be constrained by fixed-sized bags with poly tubing. Simply cut it to the size you want and heat seal each end to make your own custom bags. You can also seal the ends with staples or tape.

Choose Pack Secure for All Your Poly Bag Needs

At Pack Secure, we've got all types of poly bags for sale. Whether you need food-grade poly bags or colored bags for display, we've got you covered.

Poly Bag Types: Flat or Gusseted? 

Aside from material, bag type is another important consideration. Poly bags are available in both flat and gusseted designs. 

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• Flat Poly Bags. As their name suggests, flat poly bags are made from seamless tubing that allows them to lay completely flat when empty. These bags can accommodate many commercial and consumer packaging applications ranging from food items to manufacturing components.
• Gusseted Poly Bags. Gusseted bags are designed to expand, with extra panels giving these bags a rectangular shape when full. Gusseted bags are ideal for packaging bulkier items. They are also useful for packaging smaller components as gusseted bags fit more product than similarly-sized flat bags, making them more efficient to store or ship.

The team at Universal Plastics can help you decide which type of poly bag is best for your application.

What Size Poly Bag Do You Need?

Once you’ve decided on a type of poly bag, you’ll need to measure your product to determine the necessary dimensions. If you’ve chosen a flat bag, you simply need to choose the right dimensions for length by width. Consider the size of each component and the number of components you intend to place in a bag. For volumes with very small products, consider the overall volume of product that should go in each bag, then calculate the dimensions that would accommodate that volume.  It’s important to size up to account for imprecision and to allow room between components. 

For a gusseted bag, calculate the desired volume in the same way, but treat the bag as a rectangular prism when translating the desired volume to dimensions. While you should still add a bit to your measurements to ensure the bags have adequate room, the depth and shape of gusseted bags make it easier to get a close and accurate fit.

If your calculations reveal a need for a non-standard size, Universal Plastics can still help. As an industry leader in poly bags, we are happy to accommodate custom orders.

Common Applications

Poly bags are used to pack, store, and ship items of all kinds. 

• Food Packaging. FDA-approved, food-safe poly bags keep foods fresh and prevent moisture or contamination. At the same time, they offer a simple and attractive way to display bakery items, produce, and bulk foods, especially when printed with custom branding elements.
• Hardware Packaging. Small poly bags are an excellent, see-through solution for organizing hardware of different sizes or shapes. These packages are especially useful when shipping products with assembly requirements.
• Bulk Packaging. Thin, plain bags are a cost-effective option for vendors that sell bulk goods of any kind. Applications range from single-use bags for bulk grocery customers to sturdier bags that contain pounds of animal feed.

Poly bags can also protect, contain, and display non-food items of all types, including clothing, office supplies, home goods, and more.

Custom Printed Poly Bags at Universal Plastic

Custom printed poly bags help brands stand out with colorful prints and logos, as well as nutrition facts or other specifications. At Universal Plastic, we offer custom printing on clear poly bags of all shapes and sizes, making it easy for clients to both attract customer attention and comply with labeling regulations.

Why Choose Universal Plastic as Your Custom Poly Bag Manufacturer?

Universal Plastic offers an extensive range of standard and custom poly bags, including:

My name is Garth of JNG Handyman, LLC out of Florida. I had an idea for a product, but finding a bag manufacturer in the US or abroad that would work with me was not happening until I contacted Nat. I can't say enough about Nat and this company; responsive, user friendly, quality product, flexible, works with you, and on and on. When Nat and I started the process of working together on my bags, he stated a 3 to 4 week response time. Eight days from dropping my PO, the bags were delivered.....crushed it!! Now it's up to me to get this product out the door; I am hopefully looking forward to a long relationship with Nat and Universal Plastic Bag Manufacturing Co.

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