Polythene

Polythene, the abbreviated name for polyethylene, was first produced commercially in Britain in 1942 and the USA 1943. Low-density polythene came into its own after the Second World War, being widely used for toys, washing up bowls, liquid and food containers, bottles, furniture, and many other commodities. High-density polythene is stronger and used in industrial containers, pipes, bottles, and furniture. A well-known example of the latter is the children's stacking chair by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper for Kartell. Another variety, expanded polythene foam, was first used in the 1940s for lifebuoys and insulation and later, as manufacture became more sophisticated, as a material for packaging tools and precision instruments.See also Tupperware.