PCR shrink film for food packaging

The food packaging industry is continually seeking sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, driven by consumer demand and regulatory pressures. One significant innovation gaining traction is Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) shrink film. This product represents a circular economy approach, offering a tangible solution for reducing virgin plastic consumption and minimizing the environmental footprint of food packaging.

What is PCR Shrink Film?

PCR shrink film is a type of polyolefin film (often polyethylene or polypropylene-based) that incorporates a percentage of plastic material recovered from waste streams, specifically post-consumer waste. This waste includes items like used plastic bottles, containers, and packaging that have been collected, sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into resin pellets. These pellets are then blended with virgin resin (or sometimes used entirely on their own, depending on the application and film specifications) to manufacture the shrink film.

The 'shrink' characteristic refers to the film's ability to uniformly contract when heat is applied, tightly conforming to the shape of the packaged product. This is essential for both protection and presentation, commonly used for grouping multiple items, securing products on trays, or individually wrapping items like fresh produce, meats, or ready meals.

Key Product Features and Benefits

The integration of PCR material doesn't compromise the crucial performance characteristics expected of a high-quality shrink film for food applications:

• Clarity and Aesthetics: Modern reprocessing techniques ensure that PCR shrink film can maintain high levels of transparency and gloss, crucial for appealing food presentation on the shelf. The clarity ensures consumers can easily inspect the quality of the food item.

• Strength and Durability: The film provides robust protection against punctures, tears, and abrasion during transit and handling. This mechanical strength is vital for minimizing food spoilage and waste, which is a major environmental concern in the food supply chain.

• Shrink Performance: The film retains the necessary shrink ratio and low-temperature shrink activation required for efficient and high-speed packaging operations, ensuring a tight, wrinkle-free fit that secures the product effectively.

• Food Contact Compliance: PCR shrink film destined for direct food contact must meet stringent regulatory standards (like those from the FDA or EFSA). This often requires advanced recycling processes (sometimes referred to as super-cleaning or chemical recycling) to ensure the PCR material is pure and safe for this sensitive application. For non-direct contact, a lower-spec PCR can be used in the outer layers of a multi-layer film.

• Source Reduction: By replacing a portion of the virgin polymer, PCR shrink film directly contributes to the conservation of fossil resources and typically requires less energy and water to produce compared to virgin plastic films.

Application in Food Packaging

PCR shrink film is suitable for a wide variety of food applications, directly replacing conventional virgin polyolefin films without the need for significant equipment changes:

• Bundling: Used to group multi-packs of beverages, canned goods, or cartons.

• Trays and Overwrap: Securing meat, poultry, or fish products on foam or rigid trays, or overwrapping fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Confectionery: Wrapping boxes of chocolates or candies to ensure tamper-evidence and freshness.

The use of PCR shrink film allows food brands to visibly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, satisfying consumer demand for more eco-friendly products while maintaining the quality and safety of their goods. As recycling infrastructure continues to improve, the availability and percentage of PCR content in these high-performance films are expected to increase, solidifying its role as a core component of sustainable food packaging.