Paper and plastic bags have been an essential part of everyday shopping, these later evolved into bags with cotton strands as handles and later several types of plastic handles became available. Various product packages have been made user friendly with the use of economical plastic handles produced in all sizes and shapes, and not just the color.

The strength and grip of plastic handles depend upon the weight of items to be carried. Therefore, a light weight packaging such as, toy packaging would need a lighter set of handles intended for low capacity as opposed to packages demanding heavy duty objects to be supported.

Similarly, industrial packaging requires not just an object to be packaged and attached a handle to but is based on a numerous quantity of cartons and therefore, companies end up buying handles in thousands of quantities.

Thus, low density polythene and polyethylene handles manufactured are strong enough to carry up to 50 lbs per carton depending on the weight of packages. On the other hand, their description varies from light weight to heavy duty handles.

Polyethylene is made from a polymer which turns to a transparent glassy state when frozen and converts to liquid once heated and hence the term used to describe it is ‘thermoplastic'. Moreover, research has proven that over sixty million tons of polyethylene commodities are produced each year and the count is rapidly increasing.

Plastic handles are made in several sizes with ranges of handles being 6 inches long and 1 inch wide to 9 inches long and 2 inches wide. Secondly, almost all of them are made from low density polyethylene and besides black and white are mostly available in all primary colours.

6 inch light weight handles can hold up to 15 lbs of stock and are available in quantities such as 10,000 pieces per carton, while they are usually meant for toys, small appliances, samples and wine boxes.
Likewise, medium duty plastic handles are sold as 3,500 pieces per carton and are manufactured to support a capacity up to 30 lbs. consumer end products such as electronic goods, sporting goods or books.

During this era of worldwide customization and a step forward from mass production, companies no matter what they manufacture also offer customization for almost whatever unique ideas the customers would have. Therefore, even plastic handle producers offer client's logo or name to be engraved on the handles being produced for them. This paves way for brand recognition among ultimate consumers.

Furthermore, nowadays, not only would you observe flat, low duty custom handles but also designed and delicate handles meant for small objects, such as braid or link styled handles or even mini plastic handles used for the smallest of objects that these handles can be attached to.

On the other hand, plastic handles with washer plates are made from polypropylene which is another thermoplastic polymer that is not only used in packaging but also in the textile industry, stationary and laboratory equipment. However, as compared to polyethylene, it's production is quite a bit low to about 45 million tons being produced annually.