Films
LDPE film is an industry standard for both inner bags and poly mailers, so it’s usually easy to come by and it's often the cheapest option. It’s lightweight, so it doesn’t add too much cost to shipping. Aesthetically, the opaque, non-porous, white base makes printed colors appear more vibrant, plus matte and gloss options are available.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of plastic film ends up in landfills, so if sustainability is a priority, look into paper-based packaging, since paper is recyclable curbside.
Thin film is low volume and lightweight for shipping
Water resistant
Clear or white options. White is a good for printing bright colors
Gloss and matte finish options
Range of recycled content available for white LDPE film, up to 50%
Petroleum-based; derived from fossil fuels
LDPE film is not curbside recyclable in most cities
Dropoff recycling requires customers to find their closest dropoff site
Will most likely end up in a landfill because plastic films are low value and difficult to sort. Less than 10% of plastic has been recycled.
