Packaging

Buy from the UK's best range of polythene packaging, including poly bags, printed carriers and mailers, polythene rolls and eco packaging.

Polythene packaging is...

• Something we use regularly in our day-to-day lives
• Employed for a huge variety of purposes
• Used for everything from keeping our food fresh to helping us dispose of our rubbish and carrying our shopping home to posting something to a friend
• Available in a multitude of forms, including plastic bags, plastic sheeting, plastic film, bubble packaging, anti-static packaging, each of which come with a huge range of products from which to choose
• Available in a range of sizes, from the smallest grip seal bags, used for storing tiny items, to the largest rolls of polythene film, used for wrapping large or awkwardly-shaped items
• Available in a range of thicknesses, from the finest crystal clear polypropylene film used to display products for retail, to the thickest heavy duty polythene used as a damp proof membrane to underlay floors, as used in the construction industry
• Available in a range of colours or in clear polythene to suit the job in hand
• Available in bespoke shapes and sizes, or printed to match your business needs
• Also available in biodegradable polythene, which does the same job as regular polythene but with less of an impact on the environment

Latest news and views on waste bags

The transport to a regional orange waste bag is mainly about control at the assortment point, because prepaid systems only work when the waste is presented in a consistent, easy-to-check format. A bag with a transparent, normal colour and an attached sticker or charge marker gives fast visual confirmation for crews, so there is less need to question whether a load has been paid for. That sort of simplicity also assists with sorting on the street, because mixed household waste is already messy enough without additional uncertainty above compliance. A clearer bag normal normally means less missed assortments and less friction at the kerbside.

20 Shopping Centres Xtra-Tuff Drawstring Refuse Sacks

Refuse sacks need to be robust enough for the load, not only big enough to grasp it. A thin bag can cope with light household waste, nevertheless once broken packaging, damp garden clippings or awkward offcuts beginning to build up, weak film or poor seals soon turn into split seams and mess on the floor. A tougher gauge gives better resistance to puncture and stretch, so the bag retains its shape while it is lifted, carried and dragged to the bin. That makes a proper contrast in cleaning jobs and workshop transparent-outs, where handling damage happens fast and none wants a spill halfway through the route.

Polybags Bin Liners

Bin liners work optimal when they fit the bin properly, because a bag that is also small pulls tight across the rim and a bag that is also big wastes material and bunches up inside the can. Full-size waste sacks need enough depth and width to sit neatly above the lip, grasp their load without slipping, and still leave enough spare film for tying or lifting away. In shopping and housekeeping work, a decent fit also reduces snagging amid cleaning rounds and makes handling faster at emptying points. A well-matched liner saves time and cuts down on split bags in use.

Soclean Black Bin Bags Medium Duty 200 Pack

Bin bags need to be matched to the job, not bought on guesswork. A medium-duty sack is normally fine for light office waste, packaging trim, and normal household waste, nevertheless heavier loads fast expose thin film and poor seal strength. A heavier gauge bag gives better resistance to splits when sharp offcuts, bottles, or food waste are being carried to a skip or wheelie bin. That matters in stores, workshops, and communal areas where one torn bag can create a mess on the floor and slow down clearing up. Choosing the proper strength reduces double-bagging and retains waste movement cleaner and faster.

140g Black Sacks Per 1000

Black sacks are chosen as much for handling and hiding contents as for toughness, and that makes film quality the first thing to see. A sack that sees heavy enough on paper can still split at the side seam if the gauge is inconsistent or the seal line has been rushed on the converting machine. In warehousing, stacked rolls and packed cartons need to stay dry and away from sharp pallet edges, because a small nick in the film turns into handling damage later on. A proper black sack should take rough waste without tearing early, and that gives the site a cleaner, safer waste route.

Waste Bags

Waste bags need to be judged by how they behave on the shop floor and in the bin, not by the name printed on the carton. A superb waste bag has to open cleanly, fit the liner size properly and cope with damp or awkward contents without splitting at the base seam. If the gauge is also light, operatours stop up double-bagging or tying off torn liners, which wastes time and creates a messy perception for the stop user. A quieter film with proper seal quality also assists in washroom use, where noisy handling and leaking corners fast become a complaint. The proper bag specification reduces handling damage and retains maintenance simple.

Biodegradable bin liners work optimal when they are matched properly to the waste stream they are carrying. A liner that copes with light household waste may split when loaded with wet nappy waste, so film gauge and seal quality matter as much as the material claim on the pack. In storage, these liners also need protection from heat and damp, because poor warehousing can shorten shelf life and make the film more brittle. If the liner fails at lifting point or amid secondary packing, the environmental benefit is lost to handling damage and cleanup.

Coloured waste sacks work optimal when the colour is controlled as part of the material spec, not treated as a simple visual label. On a sorting line, the film has to be seen by cameras at speed, even when the sack is crumpled, damp, or covered in dust and adhesive residue. That puts pressure on pigment loading, opacity and gauge, because a flimsy, overglossy film can shine below the lights while a heavily loaded one can upset processing when the material is re-melted. Good sacks also need enough strength to retain their shape on a pallet and through handling, while staying close to mono-material polythene suppliers so the recovered stream retains its value. A sack that reads clearly and reprocesses cleanly saves trouble later.

The interim reliance on transparent waste sacks, while the fixed receptacles remain tied to the property rather than the outgoing occupier, is not merely an administrative stop-gap; it carries a distinct set of handling and materials implications across the waste stream. Transparent polythene suppliers facilitates fast visual verification at kerbside and at the transport point, reducing pollution disputes and the unproductive secondary sorting that so often blunts select-face efficiency in downstream materials recovery. That apparent simplicity rests on fairly exacting film properties: the sack has to balance puncture resistance against tare weight, maintain melt-flow consistency through conversion, and achieve a gauge that does not collapse below wet biological load yet avoids unnecessary resin mass. In practice, that means a high-clarity mono-material format is generally favoured, not because it is glamorous, nevertheless because it assists pallet stability in bundled consignments, mitigates stockholding bulk through better volumetric efficiency, and leaves open a more straightforward recycling route where the recovered film is clean enough to re-enter lower-grade applications. The warehouse-floor reality is less forgiving than policy language recommendsif containers are removed from the address, the replacement loop becomes messy, service continuity falters, and operatives are left compensating with ad hoc bagging regimes that increase handling friction, split rates and avoidable material loss.

Orange Recycling Sacks

Recycling sacks need to match the job in front of them, not only occupy a storage shelf. A sack for lightweight mixed recyclables may be fine in a depot or school, nevertheless if the film gauge is also thin it will split when filled with sharp packaging, tins, or compacted waste. That creates mess, additional labour, and a poor first impression at assortment point or back-of-house sortation. Picking the proper sack also assists stock control, because transparent grading and consistent pack format make issuing easier and reduce waste. The sensible selection is the one that grasps together through storage, handling, and uplift without creating avoidable cleaning work.

Common forms of packaging

Polythene packaging comes in many shapes and forms to cover a multitude of tasks. Here are a few of the most commonly-used forms of packaging:

Packing bags - clear polythene bags used for a range of tasks, from packing and displaying retail products to covering items for storage or transportation.

Display bags - popular with retailers, these crystal clear polypropylene glossy display bags will make your products sparkle!

Carrier bags - plain or printed polythene bags designed to help retail customers carry their purchases home. Available with a variety of handle styles.

Mailing bags - polythene envelopes with an integral fold-down seal that provide a lightweight and waterproof alternative to regular envelopes for sending your mail.

Garment covers - polythene covers used to protect dry cleaning or laundry during transportation or storage. Available in plain or printed polythene.

Bubble packaging - polythene sheets comprised of small air-cushioned ‘bubbles’ that protect delicate or fragile items during transport or storage. Also available in bubble bag form, complete with sealing strip.

Vacuum packaging - used in the catering industry for sealing food before cooking in a water bath (sous-vide - see below), or storing food to keep it fresh. Requires a vacuum sealer to seal the bags.

Polythene rolls - Polythene film available on the roll used for a variety of packaging purposes, including layflat tubing, shrink pallet covers and glossy display film.

Plastic sheeting - Thicker rolls of polythene, also known as builders rolls, used to cover wide areas in the building trade and by painters and decorators.

Specialist packaging

Away from the everyday carrier bag and Here are some of the more specialist types of polythene packaging. But whilst they might be less frequently used, they are no less important.

Anti-static bags - a range of bags that protect electrical equipment and small electronic components from the potential damage caused by electrostatic discharge.

Box liners - a range of large polythene liners featuring a wide gusset, used for lining boxes or drawers, or as a packing cover for large or bulky items.

Fish bags - strong clear polythene bags that come with watertight seals, used to transport goldfish and other types of fish. Popular with pet shops, aquaria and funfair stall holders.

Furniture bags - Extra large polythene bags used for covering large items of furniture, including sofas, chairs, chests of drawers and wardrobes during house removals or for storage.

Mattress covers - High strength gusseted polythene film covers used to protect mattresses. Available for single, double or king size mattresses and come complete with safety warning.

Vacuum packaging and sous-vide cooking

Every gourmet restaurant kitchen worth its salt these days will contain a vacuum sealer and a collection of vacuum bags. Not only does a vacuum sealer allow chefs to store food in an airtight environment, thus keeping it fresh for longer, but it can also be used in the cooking process.

Chefs use vacuum packaging for sous-vide cooking - a method of cooking in which food is sealed in an airtight polythene vacuum bag before being cooked in water at a specific temperature to ensure it is cooked evenly throughout, without losing any of its moisture.

The technique is similar to poaching but, by sealing the food inside a vacuum pack, it has the advantage of retaining the juices and aroma of that would be lost during poaching.

Sous vide is a technique used in many high end gourmet restaurants and is popular with well known chefs including Heston Blumenthal, Michael Carlson and Joël Robuchon.

On a roll - plastic or polythene?

Polythene packaging dispensed from a roll can be referred to by a large number of terms, covering a range of products that serve very different purposes. However, often the terms used to describe these rolls are mixed up and people can refer to plastic or polythene film when meaning the same thing, or they might use the same term - e.g. polythene rolls - when referring to two completely different products.

In the trade, for the most part, ‘plastic rolls’ is a term used to describe rolls of thicker plastic sheeting - often referred to as builders rolls - that protect large surface areas or objects from the dust, debris and generally mess caused by building, painting and decorating. Damp proof membrane, used in the early stages of the building process, is classified as a heavy duty plastic roll.

The term ‘polythene rolls’, on the other hand, would most likely be used to describe rolls of thinner polythene film used to wrap or cover items, such as shrink wrap, pallet covers, glossy polypropylene display film or - when dispensed in tube form rather than a single layer - layflat tubing.

If you’re working with someone who refers to a plastic roll or polythene roll, ask them to be a bit more specific so that you know you’ll get exactly what you need for the job in hand.

Where to buy polythene packaging

Polythene packaging manufacturers and suppliers include:

Polythene
Polythene.co.uk is a fantastic online shop from these specialist polythene manufacturers. They produce and sell a massive range of polythene packaging, bags, film, covers and accessories at unbeatable prices.
www.polythene.co.uk

Poly Bags
Discount Polybag provides a perfect one-stop shop for all your polythene packaging needs. UK-leading manufacturers and stockists of a massive range of poly bags and other plastic packaging, all at wholesale prices.
www.discountpolybag.co.uk

UK Packaging
Buy Packaging is the number one place to go to buy packaging in the UK. Whatever type of polythene packaging you need, from mailing bags to bubble wrap and crystal clear display film to heavy duty plastic sheeting, this is the place to find it.
www.buypackaging.co.uk

Polythene Packaging
Euro Polythene is a pan-European polythene packaging website. Whether you are based in the UK or mainland Europe, this website will cater for any polythene packaging needs, from stock products to bespoke goods, all at discount prices.
www.europolythene.co.uk

Polythene Bags
A website dedicated to helping you buy polythene bags at discount prices. Features a list of major suppliers and a buying guide so that you get the very best bargain prices on quality polythene bags.
www.discountpolythenebags.co.uk

Grip Seal Bags
A website to cater for all your packaging needs, e-Polybags contains tonnes of useful information on a range of polythene packaging from grip seal bags to eco-friendly bags, with a list of suppliers for you to get the best deal.
www.e-polybags.co.uk

Plastic Bag Suppliers
This specialist plastic bag website is a useful tool for anyone looking to buy a range of polythene bags or their biodegradable equivalent.
www.bagsuppliers.co.uk

Plastic Bags
Bags specialises in plastic bags. A fantastic resource for anyone looking to buy or find out more about a range of plastic bags. Contains a very useful glossary of plastic bag terms and details on bespoke plastic bag manufacturing.
www.bags.uk.com

Printed Carrier Bags
If you're looking for plastic bags personalised with your very own design, then head over to Printed Bags, which provides a wealth of useful information on printed carrier bags and how to make your business stand out from the crowd.
www.printedbags.org.uk

Plastic Bag
Plastic Bags Direct is a website dedicated to plastic packaging and plastic bags. Featuring lots of information on how plastic bags are made, what packaging is used for and where to buy it.
www.plasticbagsdirect.co.uk

Cheap Poly Bags
This website describes itself as the "ultimate guide" to sourcing cheap polybags and it's hard to argue. A veritable treasure trove of information on plastic bags and where to buy them at discount prices.
www.discountpolybags.co.uk

Research & Resources

To find out more about polythene packaging, including details of how it is manufactured, the various purposes it serves and how to recycle it, please visit:

PackagingKnowledge: The undisputed polythene packaging encyclopedia, containing vast amounts of information and detailed articles on every type of polythene packaging.

Goldstork: Read hand-picked information and specially selected features on a huge range of polythene packaging products on this free 'best-of-the-web' directory.

PlasticBags.uk.com: The number one polythene packaging directory in the UK allows manufacturers to list products for free, whilst shoppers can browse through a broad range of websites specialising in all types of polythene packaging.

Eco-friendly packaging

Packaging is such an integral part of everyday life in the 21st century that it’s hard to imagine a world without it. But with global warming and other environmental concerns becoming more and more important, many people look to replace their regular packaging with eco-friendly alternative.

What is eco-packaging?

Eco-packaging is a form of packaging that, rather than using traditional polythene, uses alternative materials that are biodegradable, thereby having less of an impact on the environment.

A wide range of eco-friendly packaging is manufactured today from polybio and biodegradable material, that will completely biodegrade when placed in regular composting conditions, landfill or into prolonged contact with soil.

Types of eco-packaging

You can have one eye on the environment while doing a wide range of household tasks these days and there’s eco-packaging to help you along the way.

Popular types of eco-packaging include biodegradable bin bags, refuse sacks and wheelie bin liners, kitchen waste bags and compost bags, biodegradable mailing bags, biodegradable clear bags, biodegradable carrier bags and even dog poo bags.