In the modern world, plastic has become a vital component in our everyday lives, from the cosmetic industry to medical and food. Since plastic is so versatile, it is used as packaging for millions of different products. If you are running a cosmetic brand, there are high chances that you are already dealing with squeeze plastic cosmetic tubes.
There are many types of plastic created for various purposes. However, the most common types of plastic that the average person comes into contact with are High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET).
The question that many plastic cosmetic tube supplier get is how to identify which plastic is right for their plastic cosmetic tubes. This confusion is what we are going to solve through this blog.
PET is the more common of the two, but HDPE has better resistance to certain chemicals. Both are recyclable and both are used in tubes, bottles, and other products. The difference between PET and HDPE plastic is very important when considering which plastic to use for your cosmetic tube containers. It’s actually quite simple, PET is a type of plastic that can be recycled again and again, while HDPE is not.
PET:
PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate and is a type of plastic that is highly transparent. It is the most widely used form of plastic because it has a high tolerance to moisture and can be produced easily. PET plastic cosmetic tubes are infinitely recyclable because they do not contain additives like bisphenol A (BPA) that can affect the quality of recycled products. For this reason, PET plastic squeeze tubes have codes printed on them so that they can be recycled correctly.
PET is a more common type of plastic because it’s cheaper to produce. This makes it perfect for many products that are purchased on a larger scale (such as cosmetic tube containers), where it can be economical to produce a large quantity of tubes at once. It’s also great for things like disposable food containers since it can be recycled repeatedly without losing any properties or functionality.
PET plastic is a very commonly used material in both cosmetic tube manufacture packaging filament and in end-use parts. Its strength, durability and resistance to moisture, acids, bases and oils make it the ideal choice to use in plastic cosmetic tubes.
The strength of PET plastic squeeze tubes can be quite high, even stronger than some steel grades when compared on an equal thickness basis. PET cosmetic tube containers are generally clear while HDPE has a cloudy appearance. This transparency gives PET tubes a glossy finish which makes them look more attractive than HDPE tubes. Such plastic cosmetic tubes are also highly durable which makes them more suitable for shipping purposes.
HDPE:
HDPE, on the other hand, is a polyethylene thermoplastic that is made from petroleum. The appearance of HDPE can vary, but usually comes in white or off-white color. It has a high tensile strength, high impact resistance, low coefficient of friction, excellent abrasion resistance and outstanding electrical properties.
HDPE stands for High Density Polyethylene and is a highly durable material used in creating many industrial applications, from thermo-couples to the production of paperboard packaging to detergent bottles.
HDPE on the other hand needs to be disposed of properly once its life cycle is complete. If you have plastic cosmetic tubes made from HDPE, you must ensure that you recycle all of that packaging properly or else you could potentially put hundreds of pounds of unnecessary waste into landfills or even worse, the ocean!
There are many benefits to using HDPE bottles. They are virtually unbreakable and can withstand temperatures from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also designed to retain temperature more efficiently than other plastics, which means they will not melt or crack when left in hot cars for long periods of time.
In general, you can expect to see much greater longevity for HDPE than for PET. But because of this flexibility when recycling HDPE cosmetic tube, you’ll find that its overall recycling rate is lower than that of PET plastics.
Advantages of HDPE:
- Strong & Durable
- High Tensile Strength
- Lightweight
- Chemical Resistant
- Excellent Electrical Insulator
- Low Moisture Absorption Rate
Advantages of PET:
- Recyclable & Environmentally Friendly
- Resists Abrasion & Impact Damage
- Transparent & Glossy Finish
Difference between PET and HDPE plastic cosmetic tubes:
It’s a good idea to understand the different types of plastic cosmetic tubes, so you can make the right choice for your products and customers. PET is a linear polymer that can be produced in preforms, bottles and tubes. While it has the same chemical makeup as HDPE, PET’s properties are significantly different. HDPE is the most widely used plastic for temperature-sensitive products and it’s the preferred material for many plastic cosmetic tube suppliers. PET tubes are generally clear while HDPE has a cloudy appearance.
PET is one of the most commonly used plastics in consumer products, and is found in most water and pop bottles, and some packaging. Typically, it has a strong resistance to acids, bases, alcohols and other chemicals. Highly resistant to damage from impact and stress cracking. This material is clear in color and can be easily recycled.
HDPE is very hard-wearing and does not break down under exposure to sunlight or extremes of heating or freezing. It has good chemical resistance but it can be contaminated with a wide variety of chemicals affecting the product’s properties. HDPE has excellent resistance to acids and bases but is not recommended for solvents containing aromatics(such as benzene). Due to its strength, HDPE is widely used in the packaging industry for containers like household cleaning bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, especially in cosmetic tubes manufacture.
The main differences between PET and HDPE plastics include:
- Durability – PET is less durable than HDPE
- Flexibility – PET is more flexible than HDPE
- Moisture resistance – PET can sometimes absorb more moisture than HDPE
- Strength – PET is more rigid than HDPE
- Weight – PET is lighter than HDPE
- UV Resistance – PET does not have as good an ability to resist UV rays as does HDPE.
