Is this your first time shopping for custom packaging?
There’s a lot to understand about the process. Read on for some basic information, and visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more.
Basic Packaging Terms & Concepts
Poly
“Poly” is short for polyethylene, a common plastic that is primarily used in packaging. Polyethylene is a tough, light, and flexible synthetic resin made from petroleum.
Resin
Resin is the polyethylene granules that are shipped to manufacturers as raw material. Resin is melted and processed into all kinds of products. During production, the resin can be manipulated into a stronger or more elastic plastics depending on material density, liquidity, and pressure.
- Low density polyethylene (LDPE): soft, tough and flexible, LDPE is used for carrier bags, packaging material and agricultural plastic.
- Medium density polyethylene (MDPE): known for stress cracking resistance and shock and drop resistance, MDPE is often used in packaging film, carrier bags, and screw closures.
- High density polyethylene (HDPE): sturdy and inflexible; used for sandwich bags, pedal bin bags or packaging for meats, vegetables and fruit.
Gauge
Gauge refers to the thickness of the poly film used for bags and tubing, usually measured in “mils” (1/1000 of an inch). The thicker the gauge, the stronger the packaging is.
Inner Dimension
This is the measurement of usable space inside the bag.
Bag Types & Features
Visit our Capabilities page to see the types of bags that can be created from polyethylene.