Polyethylene Bottles, and Why the Shoulder Is Where They Crack
A polyethylene bottle is HDPE (firm, opaque) or LDPE (soft, squeezable). HDPE suits shampoo, detergent and chemicals; LDPE suits sauces and gels. Both are cheaper per gram than PET and do not shatter.
Representative image — exact dimensions, colour and finish are confirmed on the approved drawing.
| Capacity | 30–1,000 ml |
| Material | HDPE, LDPE |
| Neck | 24/410, 28/410, 38 mm |
| Colour | Natural, white, black, matched |
| MOQ | 1,000 pcs |
| Lead time | 25–35 days |
Not sure the neck fits your pump? Run the spec checker →
HDPE vs LDPE
HDPE is the packaging workhorse: opaque, tough, cheap, and stable with most household chemicals. LDPE is softer and used where the bottle has to be squeezed.
Neither takes hot fill above about 80 °C without distortion, so for jam and sauces we quote PP.
Why Polyethylene and Not PET
Cost and chemical resistance. A 750 ml HDPE shampoo bottle uses less resin than the PET equivalent and does not craze with surfactants. PET wins only where clarity is the product.
Recycling Note
HDPE is the most widely recycled plastic after PET. Natural and white recycle best; black is invisible to near-infrared sorting, so a black HDPE bottle carries no recyclability claim.
Compatibility, Packing and Tolerance
Closures That Fit
Send the neck finish and we match a closure from the same plant: disc-top and flip-top caps, lotion and foam pumps, mist sprayers and droppers. Closures are fitted and tested on the bottle before packing, which is where most leaks originate.
Packing and Freight
Carton quantity, carton dimensions and gross weight are quoted with the unit price. FOB Shantou is the default term; EXW and CIF are quoted on request. Payment is 30 % deposit, 70 % against the bill of lading.
Tolerance
Dimensions hold to ± 1.5 % and weight to ± 1 g against the approved drawing. Anything outside that range is remade, not discounted.
Decoration Options and What They Cost in MOQ
Silkscreen in one to four colours starts at 1,000 pcs and adds about five days; the plate is a one-off, which is why it does not repeat on a reorder. Labels are lower in unit cost for multi-colour artwork and allow short runs. Hot stamp, spray coat and metallising start at 3,000 pcs because the line set-up is heavier and the reject rate is higher.
Decoration also decides the recycling story. A paper label with a wash-off adhesive keeps a PET bottle in the PET stream; a full-body sleeve does not. If the pack carries a recyclability claim, the decoration is part of the claim, not a design detail.
Sampling and Approval
A sample from an existing mould takes 7 days and comes from the production tool, not a showroom piece. For a new shape, tooling takes 15–20 days before sampling. We ship the sample with the drawing it was made to, so the approval is against a number rather than a photograph.
If the formula contains alcohol, a high level of essential oil or a particulate, say so at sample stage — the compatibility test runs four weeks and it costs less to find a problem then than in a container.
How We Quote and Ship
Send capacity, neck, quantity and the closure you intend to use. We reply within one business day with unit price, packing data (pcs per carton, carton size, gross weight) and lead time — the packing data is what your freight forwarder needs, so it is quoted with the price rather than after.
Production is 25–35 days after sample approval on existing moulds, 15–20 days longer if a new mould is needed. Payment is 30 % deposit and 70 % against the bill of lading; FOB Shantou is the default term, EXW and CIF on request.
What We Do Not Do
We do not fill, formulate or design labels, and we do not hot-fill in standard PET above about 60 °C. We hold ISO 9001:2015 (PCC85724Q01277R1S), RoHS reports for PE and PET and an EU 10/2011 migration test — and we do not claim FDA, REACH or GRS certification we do not hold.
Frequently Asked
What is the difference between HDPE and LDPE?
HDPE is firmer and opaque; LDPE is softer and squeezable.
Can polyethylene bottles hold chemicals?
Yes for most household chemicals; send the formula and we check the resin and the closure gasket.
Is HDPE recyclable?
Yes, and it is widely accepted. Black HDPE is not detected by near-infrared sorting.
What is the MOQ?
1,000 pcs per colour.
Can it be hot filled?
Not above about 80 °C without distortion; PP is the answer for hot fill.
Related
Send the Spec, Get the Number
Capacity, neck, quantity — we come back with unit price, packing data and lead time.