STRETCH & SHRINK FILM | MATERIALS


Pulling together: advances in stretch and shrink film


Legislation like Europe’s PPWR raises the need to incorporate recycled plastics into products – including widely used packaging such as stretch and shrink film


Delegates at two recent Stretch and Shrink Film conferences – both organised by AMI – found that recyclate is becoming more important in film formulations.


Chantal Semaan, market technology manager at


Borealis, told delegates that the company has produced stretch hoods using 35% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) without affecting load stability. Adding more PCR to various types of film will be


required under PPWR regulations in Europe. For non-food applications, this is 35% by 2030. She said that a combination of Borealis grades – such as its PCR-based Ecoplast and virgin grades – have been used to create stretch hood films with high melt homogeneity, good mechanical properties and low tear propagation.


www.filmandsheet.com This involved creating a 120-micron, five-layer


film, interspersing its Anteo and Queo virgin grades with Ecoplast on an Optimex II (from W&H). The film then underwent load stability testing and was found to be EUMOS 40509 compliant. Saica also stressed how incorporation of PCR can help to meet PPWR requirements. Luis Pellejer, director of its Natur Cycle Plus division, told delegates that the company has been producing these films for more than three years. “PCR grades used in stretch film – with a mini-


mum of 35% PCR – account for more than 8,000 tonnes,” he said. He pointed to an example – its 8020AC PCR, which is derived from recycled stretch film. He said it improves on an earlier product, 8020FF with a


May/June 2026 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 21


Main image: Using PCR can help stretch film manufacturers meet PPWR requirements


IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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