Polyethylene bags, otherwise known as “poly” or “PE,” have a wide range of uses. Typically made from linear low-density or low-density polyethylene (LLDPE and LDPE, respectively), these plastic bags have a wide range of applications that span across industries.
Notably, many more of them meet FDA and USDA specifications for direct food contact, making these types of plastic bags useful in the food industry, for service, packaging, and distribution.
Additionally, some specialized types of polyethylene bags have gussets, which are folds along the sides or at the bottom (or both) making them highly practical since they can be stored flat yet will expand when filled.
Here are some common uses and applications, based on the thickness of the PE material.
Common Uses for 1 Mil Gusseted Poly Bags
The lightest and thinnest poly bags range up to the 1 mil size; these are therefore more suitable for lightweight and light-duty applications, making them useful for temporary applications or light packaging.
Nonetheless, 1 mil gusseted poly bags have a wide range of uses, including for packaging:
● Bulk candy
● Coffee and tea
● Nuts
● Bagels or donuts
● Bread
● Rolls
● Cookies
● Even smaller bags of ice (thicker poly is more suitable for larger bags of ice)
In addition to these uses in food service, 1 mil gusseted poly bags can also be used to package:
● Lightweight paper goods and craft supplies such as toothpicks, popsicle sticks, and pipe cleaners
● Light office supplies such as pens, pads, paperclips, and more
● Nuts, bolts, and sundry hardware (only small quantities, though)
● And more
However, gusseted poly bags are useful for much more than this – you simply need to bump up the thickness to find a match.
Medium-Light Duty: 2-3 Mil Gusseted Poly Bags
Gusseted poly bags between 2 and 3 mil and slightly thicker, heavier, and more durable than 1 mil bags. This makes them more suitable for packaging heavier materials or for protective storage:
Like thinner bags, these are also suitable for packaging loose materials such as:
● Grains, cereal, tea, candy, nuts, baked goods, and much more.
● Packaging heavier produce.
● Ice
● Carrying larger quantities of hardware, office, or craft supplies.
● Food transport
● As protective packaging.
Medium-Heavy Duty: 4-6 Mil Gusseted Poly Bags
Finally, there are gusseted poly bags between 4 and 6 mil, which offer the greatest level of protection and durability of all.
At these thicknesses, the flexibility and tear- and puncture-resistance of polyethylene become most apparent. Therefore, the larger, thicker grades of PE are most suitable for providing protective packaging.
For instance, thicker PE bags are often used as pallet covers and mattress covers. They can also be used to package large, bulky, cumbersome, or ungainly construction materials.
They can also be used effectively as box liners. Other than these discrepancies among the larger and heavier grades of PE gusseted bags, their uses remain the same.
Where Can You Learn More?
Interested in learning more about the different applications of gusseted PE bags of varying thicknesses and sizes?
Visit Edco Source online at EdcoSource.com. They have plenty of information on their website, and bulk buyers are in luck: Edco Source is the easy way to buy bags!
