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High density polyethylene

CAS 9041-32-1 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 227 other CAS numbers

9082-15-9 · 11098-28-5 · 11119-24-7 · 11119-25-8 · 12728-29-9 · 37310-97-7 · 37331-40-1 · 37349-69-2 · 37353-94-9 · 39307-01-2 · 39421-91-5 · 51274-11-4 · 51329-76-1 · 51329-83-0 · 52434-22-7 · 53238-84-9 · 53568-47-1 · 53850-97-8 · 56833-20-6 · 57158-09-5 · 58391-66-5 · 61614-28-6 · 62449-67-6 · 63100-66-3 · 64296-52-2 · 64441-42-5 · 66797-04-4 · 66829-22-9 · 67383-00-0 · 67462-86-6 · 70431-24-2 · 71212-21-0 · 73247-15-1 · 73730-00-4 · 73989-65-8 · 74238-84-9 · 74238-85-0 · 74238-87-2 · 74812-17-2 · 79806-01-2 · +187 more

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.
High confidence

High density polyethylene in plain language

What it is

On cosmetic ingredient lists it appears as “Polyethylene”.

Also known as Polyethylene · Low-density polyethylene · Low density polyethylene · Polyethylene AS low Mol.Wt. · Polyethylene wax · Hdpe

Show all 24 names

Ldpe · Microscrup 20PC · 190695 Black PE-MB · 190976 Black PP-MB · A 2-2FMA002 · A 60-70-162 · AC Polyethy A 6 · Abifor 1300 · Color Masterbatch · homopolymer Ethene · Homopolymer of ethylene monomers · Lldpe · Polyethylene AS · Polyolefin · Recycled polyethylene · Ultra high molecular weight plastic · Undisclosed · ethylene polymer

What it does

Used in cosmetics as an abrasive, a film former and a thickener.

  • Abrasive
  • Film forming
  • Viscosity controlling
  • Thickener
  • Film former
  • Stabiliser
Is it a concern?
Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7139 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Cons. electronics, mech. appliances, and machinery.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. High density polyethylene appears in these published regulatory listings.

  • Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

  • Found in consumer products
  • Cleaning
  • Industrial
  • USFDAinactive ingredient database18 entries — 7 administration routes
    • Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Potency: 10 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 4.53 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Potency: 50 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Potency: 25 mgSource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 0.64 mgSource →
    • Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: CREAM; Potency: 54.5 %w/wSource →
    • Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: PASTE; Maximum daily exposure: 60 mgSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: OINTMENT; Potency: 94 %w/wSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: PASTE; Potency: 2.5 %w/wSource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: TAPE; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: TRANSDERMAL; Dosage form: FILM, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 85 mgSource →
    • Route: TRANSDERMAL; Dosage form: SYSTEM; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: JELLY; Potency: 42.6 %w/wSource →
    • Route: VAGINAL; Dosage form: SUPPOSITORY; Potency: NASource →
    • Route: TOPICAL; Dosage form: GEL; Potency: 26 %w/wSource →
  • EUCosIngActiveListed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.
    • Listed in CosIng inventory for cosmetic use.Source →
  • EUEFSAEFSA opinionOpinion of the Scientific Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to a 3rd list of substances for food contact materials (EFSA AFC)
    • Opinion of the Scientific Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to a 3rd list of substances for food contact materials (EFSA AFC)Source →
  • USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7139 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Cons. electronics, mech. appliances, and machinery. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Viscosity modifier, Film former, Thickening agent.
    • EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 7139 composition records across product categories including Construction and building materials, Furniture and furnishings, Cons. electronics, mech. appliances, and machinery. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Viscosity modifier, Film former, Thickening agent.Source →
  • USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.
    • openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as polymer.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

  • SCCS

    EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety

    No SCCS opinion on file.

  • CIR

    Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)

    No CIR safety assessment on file.

  • EFSA

    European Food Safety Authority

    • Opinion of the Scientific Panel on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and materials in contact with food (AFC) on a request from the Commission related to a 3rd list of substances for food contact materials (EFSA AFC)

      2004 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for High density polyethylene yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

7 data sources

Where this comes from

  • CosIng

    regulatory · updated 2026-09-23

    Open →

  • EFSA OpenFoodTox

    regulatory · updated 2026-10-04

    Open →

  • EPA Chemical and Products Database

    exposure · updated october 4, 2016

    Open →

  • EPA DSSTox Identifiers

    chemistry · updated 2025-12-29

    Open →

  • FDA Inactive Ingredient Database

    regulatory · updated 2026-01-09

    Open →

  • FDA GSRS UNII

    registry · updated 2026-02-26

    Open →

  • openFDA Substance

    registry · updated 2026-05-24

    Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

No fragrance-linked caution surfaced in the current profile.

Good fit

This ingredient does not currently read as a fragrance-linked driver in the published evidence and hazard profile.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed High density polyethylene in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

7,139

Named organisations

6

Construction and building materialsFurniture and furnishingsCons. electronics, mech. appliances, and machineryOther indirect contact consumer goodsCleaning products and household careOther direct contact consumer goods

Typical roles

AbrasiveFilm formingViscosity controllingThickenerFilm formerStabiliser
See products using High density polyethylene →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include High density polyethylene; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 277 →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside High density polyethylene in the catalog.