# 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.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/

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
 Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · Foundation · Matter

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

1. About 53 Mt of HDPE was made in 2024, roughly 12% of the world's 431 Mt of plastics.
2. 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.
3. Under India's EPR rules, rigid HDPE packaging must contain 30% recycled plastic from 2025-26 and 60% by 2028-29.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Ethylene**About 1.0 t per tonne HDPE
2. 2 **Low pressure**Slurry or gas-phase, 10-40 bar
3. 3 **Bimodal design**Two reactors in series for pipe grades
4. 4 **Pellets**Stabilisers, carbon black, 25 kg bags
5. 5 **Products**Bottles, crates, pipes lasting 50+ years
6. 6 **Recycling**Rigid bottles widely collected
 Covered in [The chemical industry: what it makes and how it is organisedChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/chem-industry-map/)[The fine and specialty chemicals business: how it really worksChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/fine-and-specialty-business/)[Bioplastics: PLA, PHA, bio-PE and starch blendsChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/bioplastics-pla-pha-biope-starch/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hdpe/links/index.md)