# Polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE)

Low-density and linear low-density polyethylene: the soft, tough plastics behind most packaging film, and the largest single source of leaked plastic waste.

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

Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · No. 46

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 60 Mt a year of LDPE plus LLDPE (2024, indicative: 14% x 430.9 Mt); roughly 38 Mt LLDPE and 22 Mt LDPE (indicative split)
- 1.9 t CO₂e per t
- HS 390110, 390140
 Pseudo-commodities · Commodity plastics · Foundation · Matter

Two-thirds of all soft polyethylene becomes film, much of it used for less than a year before it is thrown away.

Chart: Illustration: Polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE)

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Ethylene from a steam cracker is polymerised, either at huge pressure for LDPE or at under 30 bar with a catalyst and a comonomer for LLDPE.

##### Three things to know

1. LDPE and LLDPE make about 60 Mt a year, roughly 14% of the 431 Mt of plastics produced in 2024.
2. PE capacity grew 3.8% a year for five years while demand grew 1.9%, and another 23 Mt is due in 2027-28.
3. India requires flexible packaging to contain 10% recycled plastic in 2025-26, rising to 20% by 2027-28.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Ethylene**About 1.02 t per tonne PE
2. 2 **Comonomer**LLDPE adds 7-10% butene, hexene, octene
3. 3 **Polymerisation**LDPE at 1,500-3,000 bar; LLDPE low
4. 4 **Pellets**25 kg bags, 24-26 t per container
5. 5 **Film**Wraps, pouches, carry bags, farm film

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

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