High-density polyethylene
High-density polyethylene: the stiff, chemical-resistant polyethylene used for bottles, crates, pipes and carry bags, and one of the easiest plastics to recycle.
Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · No. 47
- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 53 Mt a year (2024, indicative: about 12.2% x 430.9 Mt)
- 1.9 t CO₂e per t
- HS 390120
The stiff plastic of milk jugs, crates and water pipes is also one of the easiest plastics to recycle.
Chart: Illustration: High-density polyethylene
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Ethylene is polymerised at low pressure with Ziegler-Natta or chromium catalysts, so the chains stay nearly straight and pack tightly into a stiffer plastic than LDPE.
Three things to know
- About 53 Mt of HDPE was made in 2024, roughly 12% of the world's 431 Mt of plastics.
- Indian HDPE film import prices fell to $830 a tonne in December 2025, then climbed to $1,220-1,260 by August 2026 after Hormuz.
- Under India's EPR rules, rigid HDPE packaging must contain 30% recycled plastic from 2025-26 and 60% by 2028-29.
The journey
- 1 EthyleneAbout 1.0 t per tonne HDPE
- 2 Low pressureSlurry or gas-phase, 10-40 bar
- 3 Bimodal designTwo reactors in series for pipe grades
- 4 PelletsStabilisers, carbon black, 25 kg bags
- 5 ProductsBottles, crates, pipes lasting 50+ years
- 6 RecyclingRigid bottles widely collected