What is the Difference Between Milky White and Natural White rHDPE? | Swanpoly
Many global plastic buyers confuse milky white rHDPE and natural white rHDPE. Though both use premium post-consumer PCR HDPE and may include GRS and FDA food-contact certification, they are different in a few ways.
They use different raw material sources.
They look different.
They perform differently in TDS tests.
They are best suited for different production uses.
Raw material source
Natural white rHDPE is mainly recycled from clean translucent HDPE containers. These original articles have no inherent milky pigment. After sorting, washing and granulation, the material delivers bright, clean white. Milky white rHDPE comes mostly from waste milk bottles and opaque food jugs. The original consumer goods contain inherent opacifying agents, which create its typical soft milky‑opaque tone after recycling.
Key TDS & visual differences
Natural white rHDPE features higher surface gloss, slightly lower ash content ≤0.08 %, and better faint light‑transmitting property. MFI ranges 0.3‑2.0 g/10min. It shows bright pure‑white appearance with less haze.
Milky white rHDPE is fully opaque with soft milk‑white tone. Ash content ≤0.12 %, MFI ranges 1.5‑3.5 g/10min. It has outstanding low‑temperature impact toughness but lower gloss level than natural white grade.
Processing & typical applications
Natural white rHDPE is preferred for high-gloss, blow-molded cosmetic bottles. It is also used for high-end daily-chemical containers. It suits products that need a bright surface finish. It is widely selected when brands want close‑to‑virgin visual performance.
Milky white rHDPE excels for food‑grade milk‑style bottles, storage jugs, household containers and large‑volume blow‑molded articles. Its excellent toughness makes it resistant to drop and cold‑temperature damage.
Both grades support blow molding, extrusion and partial injection molding.
Swanpoly supplies both in scrap, flakes and pellet forms. Every batch is supplied with TDS, COA, GRS‑TC and FDA compliance documents for traceability.
When selecting material: choose natural white rHDPE for high‑gloss, bright‑looking finished goods. Pick milky white rHDPE for opaque food‑grade containers emphasizing impact‑resistant performance.
FAQ
Q: Can milky white and natural white rHDPE be blended together?
A: Blending is technically possible but will cause unstable gloss and haze. It is not recommended for high‑end packaging production.
Q: Are both grades food‑contact safe?
A: Premium grades from Swanpoly meet FDA food‑contact requirements and hold valid GRS certification for food‑packaging manufacturing.
