LDPE (Low-density polyethylene) plastics are just like HDPE in composition but is a more translucent and flexible plastic. Since it is a softer material, LDPE plastics are often used in a variety of flexible applications such as squeeze bottles, plastic film, grocery bags, and wire cable coverings. It is usually more costly to produce LDPE plastics so you will often see products created with this material in smaller applications such as container lids. The recycling code #4 is used to represent LDPE plastics.
Properties of LDPE Plastic Bottles
- Excellent resistance to acids, bases and vegetable oils
- Toughness, flexibility and relative transparency
Common Uses for LDPE Plastic
- Water bottles
- Food storage containers
- Plastic tubing
- Shrink Wrap and Stretch Film
- Coatings for Paper Milk Cartons
- Container Lids
- Squeeze Bottles
LDPE plastic is frequently recycled from companies that utilize shopping bags or large quantities of shrink wrap. LDPE also includes Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE).