• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Plastic Expert Group

Materials Testing & Plastic Consultants

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • SERVICES
    • Overview
    • Plastic Failure
    • Pipe Failure Analysis
    • Injection Molding Defects
    • Materials Testing
    • CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping
  • LEARN
  • CONTACT US

Retail Plastic Bag Failure

Categories

You are here: Home / Plastic Failure Analysis & Testing / Retail Plastic Bag Failure

August 6, 2020

Plastic bags have become the standard for many retailers, however, defective design or manufacturing can lead to bag failure, and can cause personal injury or property damage. Additionally, improper bag loading or bagging training can also lead to bag failure. Plastic Expert Group specializes in determining the cause of plastic failures for our clients through detailed scientific analysis.

A Case Study

 

Problem: Heavy object breaks through plastic bag, causing personal injury.

Plastic bags have become the standard for many retailers, however, defective design or manufacturing can lead to bag failure, and can cause personal injury or property damage. Additionally, improper bag loading or bagging training can also lead to bag failure. Plastic Expert Group specializes in determining the cause of plastic failures for our clients through detailed scientific analysis.

 

QUESTION: What caused a plastic bag to fail?

Retailers primarily utilize plastic bags as a means for shoppers to transports their purchases from checkout. The use of plastic bags can be safe and effective, but only when the plastic bags are property manufactured and utilized. Plastic Expert Group was hired to analyze the reason for a plastic bag failure in a personal injury case involving a customer.

Plastic bag failure points

ANALYSIS: Determine if defective design, defective manufacturing, improper bag loading, or improper bagging training led to the plastic bag failure.

Plastic Expert Group analyzed the bag that failed, as well as other samples obtained from the retailer. Our analysis determined the exact thickness of the failed plastic bag, as well as several high-stress points caused by the bag’s design.

Plastic bag diagram

Plastic bag analysis

CONCLUSION: The plastic bag failed due to several defects, including defective bag design, defective bag manufacture, defective bag loading, and defective bagging training.

Plastic Expert Group concluded there were multiple reasons for the bag’s failure which ultimately led to personal injury. First, the bag’s plastic thickness was up to 55% below the retailer’s specification. Next, the defective bag design caused stress points at the bottom of the bag. Finally, the bag was not properly loaded by the employee, compounding the stress on an already flawed plastic bag.

Footer

Plastic Molding Defects
Our plastic consultants can help you discover the best process to make your part or product. If you’ve already discovered a defect, we will root out the source of the problem and recommend the best countermeasures and solutions to remedy the issue.
Find out more
Plastic Pipe Failure Analysis
Plastic isn’t perfect. CPVC, PEX and PVC pipes and components fail from time to time. Our consultants investigate pipe failure including failure analysis in our state-of-the-art testing laboratory.
Find out more
Material Testing
If a single component made from defective material goes into production, the entire product may be compromised. Using cutting edge tools and analysis, our team of expert consultants can prevent product failure, and accurately predict component lifespan based on the proposed application.
Find out more

Plastic Expert Group & Failure Labs Copyright © 2023 Toll Free USA: (877) 668-4345   •   International: +1 (989) 281-4465

www.plasticpipefailure.com   •   www.plasticfailure.com

Plastic Failure Services:  Molding Defects   •   Pipe Failure Analysis   •   Materials Testing Consultants   •   Plastic Failure   •   PEX Failure   •   Polymer Consulting