What was life like before the development of high density polyethylene, also known as HDPE?
Well, everything was much heavier, for a start. Concrete, terracotta, glass and steel were common alternatives to HDPE.
Our stormwater drains were previously made of concrete. With some still in use today, they are vulnerable to cracking, breakage and the penetration of tree roots. In contrast, HDPE stormwater drains are impermeable to tree roots, unless they have cracked.
Today, HDPE is one of Australia’s, and the world’s, most commonly used plastic material. And for good reason – it is strong, lightweight, can be UV- stabilised, can be moulded into different shapes and can be recycled.
Other Names for HDPE
HDPE has a number of commercial names, including High Density PE, PE-HD, PE100 and PE300. These alternative names are basically trade names – the products are all made of HDPE.
Advantages of HDPE
HDPE sheets are resistant to corrosion, tolerant to many chemicals that will degrade other plastics, are easy to process and have a high impact strength, even in very cold temperatures.
Common Uses for HDPE
In Australia, HDPE is so versatile that it is used by a large number of Australian industries, including agriculture, building maintenance, chemical plants, civil engineering, concreting, construction, desalination plants, electrical, landscaping, medical, mining, packaging, pharmaceuticals, plumbing, sewage treatment plants, shipbuilding, shopfitting, swimming pools, water infrastructure and transport.
HDPE is commonly used for water tanks, chemical tanks, chemical drums, playground equipment, construction equipment and industrial equipment. Learn more about Australia’s use of HDPE in the Plastic Warehouse blog.
Plastic Warehouse’s Range of HDPE Products
Plastic Warehouse is a plastics supplier that offers wholesale prices to retail customers.
In addition to their other plastic products, they stock high quality HDPE sheets made by the famous and highly-regarded German manufacturer, SIMONA.
Their black HDPE sheets are UV stabilised and are great for outdoors use, offering excellent resistance to Australia’s harsh climate. Their white HDPE is FDA-approved for use in food containers.
All of their HDPE can be used at temperatures from -50C to +80C.
How to Recycle HDPE
HDPE’s recycling code for consumer products in Australia is two, symbolised by a triangle with the number 2 within it. Check with your council or Plastic Warehouse about recycling your HDPE products if they are in forms other than drink bottles.
