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

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.

Interesting information on packaging

Plastic packaging manufacturers that spread their work across alternative product types and market sectours tend to be more resilient than firms tied to one narrow line. A big mix of packs can smooth out sales when one sector slows, and it gives a converter more room to retain machinery busy, grasp skilled operatours, and use raw material contracts sensibly. That matters in plastics, where resin prices, energy costs, and client demand can all transport quickly. A business with a balanced portfolio also learns faster, because views from one pack format often improve another. The result is a steadier operation that can cope with change without scrambling for volume.

Cut Costs with our High Quality polythene suppliers Packaging

polythene suppliers packaging works optimal when the specification matches the job instead of being chosen by habit. A film with the proper gauge and stretch can grasp products securely without turning the load into additional waste, and that matters in a warehouse where all millimetre of cube space affects pallet stability and transport costs. Too light, and the pack splits or sags amid handling; also heavy, and material use rises without improving performance. Good control of film tension, seal quality and load shape normally does more for protection than simply adding thickness. That is why a sensible spec often cuts damage as well as reducing the amount of plastic moving through the system.

Specialist packaging assist works optimal when it sits close to production, because the job is certainly about keeping orders on the move rather than simply replying to queries. In a small team, one person's mistake can ripple through planning, warehouse and transport, so the assist function requirements a practical grip on what has in reality been packed, labelled and booked out. Records must match the proper consignment, otherwise stock figures drift and dispatch acquires held up while someone checks what went where. Clear handovers matter because they stop small admin errours turning into lost time on the floor. That close link to the shop floor retains the role grounded in what is in reality happening.

Vacuum packaging: a fresh come to sustainability

Vacuum packaging assists keep safe fresh manufacture when temperature and humidity are likely to change amid transit. Stripping out the air slows the softening and bruising that can turn fruit and vegetables mushy before they reach the shelf. That matters most on long container journeys, where hot loading conditions, chill changes and damp air can all work against product quality. A decent vacuum pack also reduces movement inside the pack, so there is less rubbing damage and less chance of condensation building up around the contents. The result is better condition at delivery and less waste from stock that has gone past saleable shape.

Bubble packaging assists pharmacies retain dose-sensitive medicines in the proper sequence, because each tablet or capsule sits in its possess sealed pocket until the moment it is needed. That arrangement reduces the chance of loose tablets being mixed up in counting trays or split between trays and bags, which is a normal origin of handling errours in busy dispensaries. It also makes checking faster, since staff can see at a glance whether the pack is perfect and in date. For patients, the routine is built into the pack rather than relying on memory or awkward small pots, so the medicine is easier to manage once it leaves the counter.

Who makes bikepacking bags?

Packing bags only work properly when the materials and construction stand up to proper handling, not only a showroom glance. A polythene suppliers-free build can still be robust, nevertheless only if the material selection, seam formation and panel cutting are controlled tightly enough to resist scuffing, water ingress and the rough treatment of repeated loading. Welded seams reduce weak points, while a clean pattern shape assists the bag sit close to the load instead of bulging into wasted space. That matters in packing as much as on a bicycle, because poor shape creates snagging, awkward stacking and damage risk. Good production control turns a simple bag into something that survives the job without fuss.

Full expert analysis on this fast-moving market can be found in The Future of Rigid Plastic Packaging to 2022. For more information, download the brochure here.

Rigid plastic packaging is being consumed most heavily in Asian markets, and that scale matters because it changes how converters, fillers, and recyclers plan capacity. A region taking above a third of global volume puts proper pressure on resin supply, moulding output, pallet movements, and store-room space, while also driving faster demand for tubs, pots, trays, and bottles that can survive stacking and transport. Higher growth rates tend to favour lightweight formats that still retain their shape, since heavier packs add cost and freight weight without improving performance. That is why material selection and gauge control become part of commercial planning, not only product specification.

polythene suppliers packaging performs well only when the film matches the knocks, squeezes and temperature changes the load will meet in proper handling. A lighter gauge can reduce material use and assist pallet fill, nevertheless it is not a win if the film splits at a corner or the seal gives method below stack pressure. The better selection relies on puncture resistance, stretch and how steadily the film runs on the machine, not on thickness alone. When stiffness and elongation are balanced properly, the line stays quiet and the pack survives transit with less damage.

Specialist packaging works optimal when it is treated as part of the handling system, not as a loose wrapper around the product. Gauge consistency, board grade and fit all matter because a pack that drifts in thickness or stiffness can upset pallet pattern, bruise edges amid fork handling, or leave weak points that fail in transit. Warehouses also need packs that stack cleanly and make superb use of cube space, since awkward dimensions waste labour and tie up storage. When the specification matches the proper journey, from despatch bay to last delivery, less units are damaged and less claims follow.

Vacuum Packaging for Food Preservation

Vacuum packaging works optimal when the product requirements protection from oxygen, moisture loss, or cross-pollution after filling. For foods, the main earn is slower spoilage, cleaner presentation, and better use of chilled storage because the pack stays compact and tidy on the shelf or in the warehouse. The film selection and seal quality matter as much as the vacuum itself, since a weak seal or poor puncture resistance can ruin the all consignment. It also assists with secondary packing, because tighter packs make pallet building steadier and easier to rotate. When the pack is matched properly to the product, handling damage and waste both drop away.