Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic polymer made from petroleum through the polymerization of ethylene at low pressure, creating a flexible, soft plastic, making it ideal for bags, wraps, squeeze bottles, and flexible containers. It's softer and more transparent than HDPE, with applications including plastic grocery bags, bread bags, food wraps, squeezable condiment bottles, flexible lids, and coating for paper milk cartons. While LDPE is considered relatively "safer" than some plastics (no BPA or phthalates typically), it still poses significant environmental and health concerns, shedding microplastics readily due to its soft structure.

For those seeking plastic-free living, LDPE is harder to avoid in some use cases more than others. While some items like single-use plastic bags can be avoided easily with attentive decision making, LDPE products, specifically plastic wrap and resealable plastic food bags, require dedicated plastic-free solutions with admittedly less utility in certain scenarios.

Shopping & Retail: Grocery bags, produce bags, retail shopping bags, garment bags

Food Packaging: Bread bags, frozen food bags, candy wrappers, food wrap/cling film

Food Service: Squeeze bottles (condiments), flexible lids, disposable gloves

Household: Sandwich bags, trash can liners (thin), dry cleaning bags

Paper Coatings: Milk carton linings, juice box linings, disposable cup coatings

Microplastic Concerns: LDPE sheds substantial amounts of microplastics due to its soft, flexible structure, released through handling, friction, and degradation. These microplastics transfer to food, particularly fatty or oily foods that draw out plastic compounds, and squeeze bottles release microplastics into condiments and liquids, especially with repeated squeezing and handling. LDPE coating on paper products (milk cartons, disposable cups) releases microplastics into beverages.

Chemical Safety: LDPE cling wrap and food storage bags can transfer chemicals to food, especially when microwaved or used with hot foods. Some LDPE products contain processing aids and stabilizers that may have unknown health effects. LDPE degrades more rapidly than rigid plastics when exposed to heat, sunlight, or oils, increasing chemical migration.