Simply FIBC bags are manufactured using woven fabrics that are made of the chemical compound polypropylene. Polypropylene is a petroleum-based compound that is pretty much easy to find throughout the world. 

At this time, a large number of manufacturers use FIBC bags for packaging purposes.

Yeah, most manufacturers have said goodbye to the packaging materials like plastic and polythene due to their negative influences on the environment. In such a situation, the invention of FIBC bags for packaging purposes made such a huge positive impact on the environment.

Do you know the top THREE reasons behind the growing usage of FIBC bags?

Except for the above top THREE reasons, there are numerous reasons behind FIBC being a winning packaging material. Here, we are going to assist you by making clarifications for the majority of the FAQs regarding the building block of FIBC bags, polypropylene.

Here’s the deal:

What is Polypropylene?-Bulk Bag FAQs

Polypropylene(PP) which is also known as polypropene or Olefin, is a thermoplastic polymer that is derived during natural gas and oil manufacturing. Its monomer is propylene.

You can refer to the chemistry of this polymer (propylene) if you are interested in it. 

Can you believe that till the late 1950’s gas polypropylene was just a waste byproduct of oil and gas production? 

After Italian scientist Guilio Natta used chain-growth polymerization to make plastic polypropylene, it was used widely in various applications. Production of this plastic polymer is comparatively easy, and it has a high degree of purity. 

What is Made from Polypropylene Plastic?

This plastic has numerous uses in industrial, commercial, and fashion applications. It is transparent, not heavy, non-toxic, has a high melting point, has dielectric properties, etc. Polypropylene is also amazingly resistant to organic solvents, acids, electrolytes, and cracking. These properties have contributed to make the material ideal for the manufacturing of packaging, textiles, pipes, sports accessories, automotive parts, medical appliances, and housewares like food containers, furniture, etc. Though we do not call it by name, we use things made from PP in our day-to-day life plentifully. 

Check why it is a promising plastic! Read more!

What Kind of Plastic is Polypropylene?

Polypropylene, which in short we call PP, is a thermoplastic polymer. This means that this plastic polymer can be molded at an elevated temperature, and upon cooling, it retains the new molded form. Among other plastics, PP has a very high melting point which makes it more heat resistant. While polyethylene tops the commodity plastic production, PP is the second most-produced polymer plastic. Do you know that there are two PP types in the present plastic market? Those are Polypropylene Homopolymer and Polypropylene Copolymer. 

What is the Difference Between Plastic and Polypropylene?- This question is another one of the popular Bulk Bag FAQs!

Don’t get confused here. This is a tricky question. Plastic is a polymer with a huge molecular mass. There are a few different plastic polymers, and polypropylene is one of them. In everyday use, though we use ‘plastic’ for anything that looks plastic, different products can be made from different types of plastics. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polystyrene, or Styrofoam (PS) are among the common plastic polymers. 

Read more about polypropylene and other plastics here.

Which is better plastic? Polyethylene or polypropylene?

As you now know, there are various plastics; let us look at the most produced two plastic types. PTE and PP are the most common versatile plastics in use. Though they fall under plastic polymers, the two have very different properties, making them unique in their own way. Both polyethylene and polypropylene have their ups and downs. Depending on the situation they are used to, one can be better than the other. However, both PP and PTE are recyclable, which is very important when it comes to plastics.

Check out more about polypropylene and polyethylene.

How Long Can Polypropylene Last?-  One of the Common Bulk Bag FAQs

Because of its unique properties, polypropylene can last for a long time. Material is hard and robust compared to commonly used plastics such as polyethylene PP can withstand daily wear and tear well. PP doesn’t break down easily as it does not react with acids and solvents like detergents and also water. Polypropylene is also crack-resistant while flexible at the same time. All these properties make the material last for a long time. That is why the material is ideal when producing much life-saving medical equipment, protective car accessories, bumpers, safety wear, and various packaging. 

Is Polypropylene Eco-friendly?- One of the Pretty Popular Bulk Bag FAQs 

Though none of the plastic polymers are environmentally friendly, compared to the plastics, polypropylene is more eco-friendly than some other plastic polymers. According to the available definitions for the term ‘’biodegradable”, PP is not recognized as such. 

However, it takes 20-30 years to break down, while most of the other plastic variations take more than 500 years to do so. Also, according to research, during breaking down, the amount of toxins that PP releases is less compared to plastics such as PVC. So that is what makes it more eco-friendly than its other family members.

How Many Times Can You Recycle Polypropylene?

Though polypropylene is recyclable, do you know that we humans do that very occasionally? 

Can you imagine that only 1% of total used polypropylene gets recycled! 

When recycling PP, it is necessary to melt at a very high temperature like 400F. Making them into granules for the new productions is the next step. Because of this, eventually, as recycling happens repeatedly, it faces thermal degradation weakening the chemical bonds between its atoms. There is research that shows that PP could undergo four closed-loop recycling before it is affected by predictable thermal degradation. 

Why is Polypropylene Eco-friendly?

As discussed before, while none of the plastics are eco-friendly, polypropylene is better for the environment than some other plastics. The use of energy in the production process is low. PP creates less waste during manufacturing. There are a few different ways to recycle PP. Compared to other plastics, PP keeps a low carbon footprint and low carbon dioxide emissions. The release of toxins is low when degrading. During combustion, PP does not release toxic gases like chlorine. Very importantly, it is possible to reuse PP packaging as a solution to single used plastics. 

Can You Reuse Polypropylene?

Absolutely yes, we can!

But some plastics are not for reuse.

Be mindful of that, especially when it comes to food and drinks!

However, PP is a safer type of plastic for reuse whenever possible. It has the potential to avoid leaking unsafe chemicals from itself to the outside. That is the reason behind the growing usage of PP in food packagings like yogurt cups and many other food containers. Recycle number of PP is 5, which makes it safe to reuse in storing food. 

Is Polypropylene toxic to humans?

Polypropylene wins as the safest plastic polymer among available plastics. So, in general, it is not a toxic chemical compound for humans. Because of its high heat-resistant ability, PP is very unlikely to leach harmful compounds when exposed to warm environments. This is why PP is pretty much safe to use with food and drink packaging. However, there are certain research studies that have shown the harmful effects of PP on humans. Therefore, we should be mindful when using and reusing products made from the material. 

Is Polypropylene Plastic BPA Free?

The short answer is yes; Polypropylene is BPA-free. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical compound used in manufacturing epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. BPA can leach from such material surfaces easily into food and water. Studies show that BPA has terrible effects on our immune system, brain development, reproductive system, etc. Therefore containers which have material containing BPA are harmful to human health. As the concerns about BPA grew, we needed BPA-free plastics. The good news is that polypropylene is such a BPA-free thermoplastic polymer. 

Is Polypropylene a Safe Plastic?

As it is BPA-free, highly heat resistant, and reusable, generally considered a safe plastic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also recognizes Polypropylene as a safer plastic than the others available. In accordance with the findings of the recent research publications, polypropylene is not a cancer-causing material to humans. 

A few new research studies have found that some PP containers are showing unsafe effects of PP. However, without further research, we cannot conclude that PP is unsafe. So it is approved to be safe by both the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and EPA. 

Why is Polypropylene Bad?

As it, however, is a type of plastic, Polypropylene has a dark side too. Mainly if we do not properly reuse and recycle, it is pretty harmful to the environment. There are some disadvantages of polypropylene as well. Of course, PP is highly inflammable. It is vulnerable to oxidation. We also have to limit its high thermal applications as it has a high thermal expansion coefficient. PP is prone to UV degradation and can get affected by aromatics and chlorinated solvents. While it is the safest plastic type, these shortcomings are there too, which are important to know when using the material.  

How to Clean Polypropylene Plastic?-Another Burning Bulk Bag FAQs!

Polypropylene plastic plays a huge role in the manufacturing process of loads of products in the market. There are various suitable cleaning methods specific to each product as it ranges from toys to fabrics to medical appliance parts. Ensure to read the product manual to follow the correct steps to ensure the functioning and durability of the product. If you need to learn about an exciting cleaning method that involves the use of a hydrophobic lubricant and a water-soluble solvent, read more!