Atlantic Poly Blog

As a construction company it is important that the sites in which you work remain clean and organized for the owners. Whether you work on commercial construction projects or residential, leaving the site usable for the owners at the end of the day is imperative. With plastic, disposable surface protection products from Atlantic Poly, you can protect the carpets and floors where you are working.

Carpet Shield - Clear, self-adhering protective film for all types of carpeting. Highly resistant to tears or punctures. Regular or reverse wound for ease of application. The recommended application time is 45 days.

Hardwood Floor Shield - Self-adhering protective film for hard surfaces, such as, tile, vinyl, VCT, laminates, marble, granite and factory finished hardwood. Multi-purpose product can be used to prevent damage to tubs and counter tops. Ideal for use during construction, remodeling, painting, etc. May be applied for up to 45 days.

Dust Pro Shield - New, state-of-the-art system that makes constructing temporary walls to control dust and heat loss, quick, simple and affordable! It locks the screening material firmly against the floor and ceiling. Dent resistant poles, made of heavy gauge aluminum, can extend up to 12 feet. Pole is compacted to 57 inches for easy storage. Two poles per kit.

As you already know, plastic bags are easier on the environment than paper. Atlantic Poly is where you can find gallon sized pleated plastic bags that are even easier on the environment than most. The uses and markets for polyethylene or poly bags are virtually endless. We have many sized and styles of plastic bags in stock too.

Atlantic Poly's layflat and gusseted bags are the perfect blend of technology and source reduction. They are made with 100% renewable energy from sources like wind and solar power. Our eco-conscious line is fully recyclable, completely non-toxic and performs so well, that you can feel confident using lighter gauge bags. It’s easy to source reduce with Atlantic Poly's layflat and gusseted bags.

Atlantic Poly medium and large layflat and gusseted bags are made from proprietary formulations. These plastic bags are engineered to provide three times the impact and twice the tensile strength of traditional low density polyethylene bags. They are formulated to provide better performance at lower gauges. That makes Atlantic Poly's layflat and gusseted bags easy on the environment, too.

Lighter density plastic bags are a good choice for items that are not heavy and require only a basic shield from their nearby environmental surroundings. Heavy density poly bags keep your goods safe from harm in more abusive environments where dirt, dust, moisture, and motion could damage your goods.

If you are looking for gallon size plastic bags, or any other size, contact Atlantic Poly.

We want you to know that Atlantic Poly is a steward of the earth's environment in that we work very hard to maximize the use of recycled source material throughout our entire supply process. This blog will focus on the product nature and recycling promise of two of our primary products: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
 
LDPE is the basic compound of original commercial use of polyethylene. LPDE is characterized by good toughness, resistance to chemicals, flexibility and clarity. It's an excellent material in low heat electrical and chemical applications. LDPE is a flexible plastic which makes it a very versatile product with a wide range of commercial applications. In recent years, LDPE versatility improved as it emerged as a commonly accepted recyclable product. The average household today utilizes an assortment of recycled LDPE products to include:
 
• Trash can liners
• Compost bins
• Shipping envelopes
• Paneling
• Lumber
• Landscaping ties
• Floor tile
 
HDPE is more rigid and harder than lower density materials. It also has higher tensile strength; four times that of low-density polyethylene. It is three times better in compressive strength and meets FDA requirements for direct food contact applications. HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods such as:
 
• Laundry detergent bottles
• Oil bottles
• Pens
• Recycling container
• Floor tile
• Drainage pipe
• Lumber
• Benches
• Picnic tables
• Fencing
 
It is important to us that you understand that Atlantic Poly is doing our part to protect the environment through our use of recycled products in our processes. We also encourage you to consider recycling not only the common household items listed here, but any and all products that you notice marked with the "recyclable" label.

There are types of biodegradable plastics and it is important to distinguish between them; their costs and uses are very different. The two main types are oxo-biodegradable and hydro-biodegradable. Oxo-biodegradable plastics are “good” biodegradable plastic. When purchasing what you believe to be biodegradable, be sure the product is made from Oxo-biodegradable plastic.

In both cases degradation begins with a chemical process followed by a biological process. Both types emit CO2 as they degrade, but hydro-biodegradable can also emit methane. Both types are compostable, but only oxo-biodegradable can be economically recycled. Hydro-biodegradable is much more expensive than oxo-biodegradable.

OXO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC - This new technology produces plastic which degrades by a process of OXO-degradation. The technology is based on a very small amount of pro-degradant additive being added into the manufacturing process, which changes the behavior of the plastic. Degradation begins when the programmed service life is over and the product is no longer required. This “life” of the plastic product is determined at the time of manufacture by the additive formula and can be as little as a few months or as much as a few years.

There is little or no additional cost involved in products made with this technology, which can be made with the same machinery and workforce as conventional plastic products.

The plastic bottles or bags fragment, and will be consumed by bacteria and fungi after the additive has reduced the molecular structure to a level which permits living micro-organisms access to the carbon and hydrogen. So, it is “biodegradable.” This plastic biodegrades to nothing more than CO2, water, and humus, and it does not leave fragments of petro-polymers in the soil.

Oxo-biodegradable polymers do not contain PCBs, nor do they emit methane or nitrous oxide.

HYDRO-BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS - Some plastics in this category have high starch content and it is sometimes said that this justifies the claim that they are made from renewable resources. However, many of them contain up to 50% of synthetic plastic derived from oil, and others are entirely based on oil-derived intermediates.

Hydro-biodegradable plastics are not genuinely “renewable” because the process of making them is a significant user of fossil-fuel energy and a producer of greenhouse gases.

A disproportionate amount of land would be required to produce sufficient raw material to replace conventional plastic products, along with a huge amount of water.

Plastics made from crops, are up to 400% more expensive, they are not strong enough for use in high-speed machinery, and they emit methane in landfills.

Oxo-bio plastics degrade in the upper layers of a landfill, but they are completely inert deeper in the landfill in the absence of oxygen.

Paper bags use 300% more energy to produce. They are also bulky and heavy to store and are not strong enough, especially when wet. They also emit methane in a landfill.

So before your company decides to eliminate plastic, be sure you know your options and understand the different types of biodegradable plastics.

Paper or plastic? Ever wonder which is actually the right choice?

Environmentalists, bag manufacturers and garbage specialists have all wondered the same thing, but they come up with different answers.

Plastic bags end up in landfills, or on roadsides, or in lakes and streams, where they prove quite a hazard to wildlife, which choke on the bags.

But bag manufacturers and garbage experts say that in the long run, plastic wins over paper.

"Paper bags are easier to recycle, but they weigh 10 times as much," says Robert Bateman of Roplast Industries, a bag manufacturer. "And paper bags use more energy and cause more waste in the process of manufacturing."

A paper bag eats up almost three times as much energy in the manufacturing process, says Bateman, who's also a past president of the Plastic Bag Association.

That's not something usually emphasized by environmentalists trying to reduce plastic use.

"Plastic bags come out on the right side of the equation on everything except the recycling side," Bateman says.

Is paper better?

Ask a professor specializing in garbage whether paper is better than plastic, and he'll say the equation is relatively easy to solve.

"The answer is very simple and very straightforward," says garbologist Bill Rathje, at the Archaeology Center of Stanford University and a leading authority on what is in America's garbage.

"It's not one that the paper-bag people like to hear. In a dry landfill, paper bags don't degrade any faster than plastic bags. In a normal, well-run landfill, paper bags do not biodegrade any faster over at least 40 years than plastic."

The problem with paper is that it's fatter, he explains.

"Paper bags are much bulkier than plastic, so they fill up more landfill space," Rathje says. "They're three to five times bulkier than plastic, and you can see that yourself at the grocery. Landfills are closing down because they're full. From that perspective, plastic is much better than paper."

Bag manufacturer executive Bateman says that a lot of the wildlife-are-hurt argument is based on anecdotal evidence.

“A seal eating plastic is very rare," he says. "Plastics are durable and light and tend to float. As far as damaging other wildlife is concerned, the worst of it is sort of anecdotal and not representative of what's going on."

The plastic bag is winning the global popularity contest, manufacturers say, and part of that is because plastic is cheap.

"The paper bag is a mass-commodity product and is dying because of the costs involved -- specifically, because of the energy costs," explains Bateman. "Paper is energy-intensive compared to plastic.

Original article on Bankrate.com   

Because there is an increasing need these days to remind consumers of your business, business owners need to use all avenues to remain top-of-mind. Custom printed poly bags are a great and effective solution.

Custom printed poly bags, bags with your company logo on them, provide the perfect product packaging solution for any product, any size, and in any quantity you demand. Bags are needed for numerous and various purposes and the available standard sizes of bags sometimes falls short in meeting the requirements. Atlantic Poly is the answer.

Custom printed poly bags can carry your product and showcase your brand. Poly Bags serve a broad cross-section of industries such as manufacturing, computer technology, retail, event planning, electronics, finance, and more.

Custom printed bags with quality designs make it possible for any business to effectively and creatively meet their packaging, promotional and storage needs.

Atlantic Poly would like to help in your recycling efforts and conserve our environment. We can:

•   Help your company's bottom line
•   Help the environment
•   Reduce your waste disposal costs
•   Possible tax benefits for recycling material

If you are disposing of Stretch Film, Pallet Wrap, Poly Bags, Poly Films, or LDPE and HDPE, we can help you save your business money and help you save the environment. We are capable of removing these materials from your company's waste stream. Atlantic Poly then turns that would-be waste into usable American made products such as Recycled Poly Bags and roll-off liners.

Our Recycled Polyethylene Bags meet the packaging requirements of state and federal recycling laws. They are manufactured from Post Consumer and Post Industrial Scrap, at least 30% recycled content. We work very hard to maximize the use of recycled source material throughout our entire supply process.

Essentially every market and industry ships products and materials. All industries, shipping any product throughout the world, uses shipping materials. Sometimes there are stringent requirements, other times the item to be shipped is fragile. No matter the scenario, our product range of shipping materials cover all shipping applications.

Packing List Envelopes
Polyethylene Packing List Envelopes protect invoices, shipping lists and other important documents. Clear pouches on the Poly Packing List Envelopes allow contents to be easily read. Full-face pouches keep contents confidential. Pressure-sensitive envelopes and labels attach easily and securely to the mailing containers. Special printing and optional colors are available and we offer all sizes.

Tapes
Masking Tape is an all purpose tape which performs incredibly in temperatures up to 200ºF.
Non-Asphaltic Sealing Tape is water activated tape is made from heavy duty craft tape. Reinforced with glass fibers lends additional structural strength and stability.

Plastic Sealing Tape is ideal for sealing cartons without moistening and is available in clear or tan.

Glass Filament Tape provides the strength of steel strapping without the dangers. It is ideal for bundling odd shapes or to secure doors or moveable parts during shipping.

Bubble Pack
Polyethylene Bubble Wrap provides outstanding protection from damage caused by shock, vibration or abrasion. Poly Bubble Wrap is easy to use and reduces packaging time and labor costs. Poly Bubble Wrap material comes in rolls, bags, sheets, dispenser packs or as anti-static.

Bubble bags with adhesive lips can be customized in a variety of sizes and weights. Call us for sizes and prices on this high quality, transparent protection for fragile items.

Corrugated Boxes
Atlantic Poly carries a wide selection of corrugated boxes to ensure safe, secure delivery for all your products. These (RSC) Regular Slotted Cartons are made from 200lb test corrugated and are great for mailing, shipping or storage of your product. They are approved for use with United States Postal Service, UPS, Fed Ex, Truck or Ground shipping.

The uses and markets for Atlantic Poly Film Materials are pretty widespread. Any industry or business involved in construction uses film for vapor barriers to protect against moisture and mold. These materials are also used to protect surfaces when painting or plastering or sandblasting. Industries that use poly film products include agriculture, processing plants, painting, construction, biomedical, medical and others. Stretch film and shrink wrap are used in manufacturing primarily, but can be used in any industry that ships products on pallets.

Stretch film and shrink wrap are used packaging materials used in industry (particularly in the manufacturing sector) to secure items to a pallet or crate. Industrial stretch film and shrink wrap provide protection of goods and secures them to a pallet or crate for safe transportation or storage.  An object is made secure on a pallet by wrapping it with layers of these materials. The film can be wrapped automatically or semi-automatically using specialized machinery or it can be wrapped manually. The stretch film is pliable, thin and sticks to itself, so there is no hassle in trying to knot, glue or staple it closed. Stretch film and shrink wrap come in a variety of colors to help organize items under a particular color. They can also be specially ordered to have a company logo and contact details on them.

Stretch Film:

One of the advantages of using stretch film is that it is not a very expensive protective material and can be used on all kinds of materials including machinery, chemicals and furniture.

Shrink Wrap vs Stretch Film:

Stretch film is different from shrink film in that shrink film is first wrapped loosely around the items and then tightened by shrinking it with the use of heat. Stretch film stretches to wrap around objects tightly and does not require heat to secure it. Like stretch film, shrink wrap is pliable, thin and sticks to itself, so there is no hassle in trying to knot, glue or staple it closed. 

The uses and markets for polyethylene liners are fairly traditional. DrumSkins drum liners, dumpster liners and poly plastic trash liners, provide an extra level of safety, reliability and protection, especially when used for dense or viscous materials. Liners provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for storing, mixing and processing liquids, pastes and powders. Liners virtually eliminate air borne toxins and leakage and also encourage easy and safe waste disposal - a must in today's industrial and manufacturing environments.

Industries that use poly liners include waste disposal, recreation parks and zoos, processing plants, and everyone else disposing of trash.

Dumpster Liners – Our BinSkins™ are heavy-duty polyethylene dumpster liners, which provide maximum protection for your roll-off dumpsters and containers. Dumpster liners reduce potential leakage, lower wash-out costs and increase container longevity and provide a cleaner, safer, easier way to dump debris, and other airborne contaminants. We have also developed a new line of Roll Off liners called “TRUE LINERS” which are guaranteed full gauge, full spec liners that meet all EPA and Government requirements. 
 
Drum Liners - DrumSkins™ are form-fitted polyethylene plastic drum liners which provide an extra level of safety, reliability and protection, especially when used for dense or viscous materials. Drum Liners are a sensible, cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for storing, mixing and processing liquids, pastes and powders.

Trash Can Liners - Polyethylene Trash Can Liners are made from linear low density film which s produces greater strength at lower costs. They are available in over 30 stock sizes from 7 gallon trash can liners to giant 55 gallon trash can liners.