How are Plastic Bags Made

Plastic bags are a type of lightweight bag made from any type of plastic material. They are used for transporting a number of products and are most commonly seen in grocery stores for transporting food. This type of bag is called a single use plastic bag because they are prone to breakage. However, they may be used for containing trash or storing items. Although plastic bags have been around since the 1950’s the modern single use bag was invented by Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin in the 1960’s. This process was patented in 1965 and this type of bag became the standard in the industry. Read on to find out how plastic bags are made.

How are plastic bags made?
The first step in the process begins with polyethylene granules, which are mixed with another type of polyethylene and blended together. These granules are melted in a machine known as an extruder. This produces a thin polyethylene film, which is cooled and rolled into the appropriate size. The film is then cut to size and it is rolled onto large rollers. The roll of film is then moved to a new machine which prints the desired patterns/design on the bag and the film in then rolled onto a new roller. The next step is punching the handles in the material. After this the bag is cut and sealed at a high temperature to ensure a tight seal is formed.

The following is a video that shows the process of making three different type of plastic bags in a large factory.

Did you know?
Plastic bags are considered to be a major environmental threat, and many manufactures have now switched to biodegradable materials to reduce the environmental impact.