Pallet stretch wrapping are widely used in the supply chain networks, as they facilitate transport and storage of pallet loads in the most secure manner. Nonetheless conventional pallet stretch film manufactured from polyethylene is an environmental nuisance since it is non-recyclable and finds its way to the dumping sites. Currently, there is an increasing convention for utilizing biodegradable / environment friendly pallet wrap. Plastic amendments as well as manufacturing techniques have since made it possible to have Recyclable, biodegradable and lesser on the plastic.
Recyclable Stretch Films
One of the approaches is the production of stretch films from materials that can be recycled easily. Currently, key stretch film makers are offering products based on LLDPE stretch films; Linear low density polyethyleneلیلطفيف This means that the films are returned back to the films, bags containers or other products in the recycling stream. Pallet films made from LLDPE offer similar factors with respect to strength, stretch, cling, and transparency as those of conventional pallet films.
Rovel is an Italian company that has created its Rovel-Green stretch wrap is fully recyclable. The LLDPE film does not contain fillers or plasticizers, which made it suitable for closed-loop recycling. The elastic recovery properties also extend the benefit of using less film compared to the normal pallet wrap.
US firm Integrated Packaging Systems has Clysar® Ultra Seal RecyclableTM Stretch Wrap material that is made from LLDPE resin. The stretch film can also be recycled through partners and reconverted to stretch film products. This wrap has shown that films used in packaging can be made from material that can be recycled and still perform as well as films that are not recycled.
Biodegradable Stretch Films
Another class is bio-degradable stretch films which can be made from plant sources instead of synthetic petrochemicals. These films meet all the performance criteria needed when used in wrapping pallet loads and then disintegrate into nontoxic components under the right composting environment.
BioMass Packaging provides Bio Film XL – the huge strength pallet wrap. Getting timber from professionally managed plantations, 2-3 tiers can handle pallet density of up to 5000 pounds. In active landfill, littered within 180 days stirs due to microbial decomposition and, therefore, breaks down. Another advantage is less cost on disposal if the utilized film is biodegradable and can therefore be dumped like compost.
The company of TIPA have deployed its new compostable TIPA-COR stretch film suitable for use in pallet wrapping of packaged products. Made from non genetically modified corn starch and fatty acids a 12 micron film has capability to stretch up to 200 percent to firmly cover pallets. After 180 days at the industrial composting site, TIPA-COR decomposes into organic and co2, water and biomass.
Plastic Reduction Strategies
Although the recyclable and biodegradable stretch films solve outstanding environmental problems to some extent, a better way can be employing fewer plastics. Lightweight films have less mass of materials, cut down transportation related emission rates and facilitate lightweighting of equipment with lesser waste generation.
Intertape Polymer Group manufactures WAT also known as water activated tape that can cut on pallet wrap consumption by 65%. As 2-inch colored adhesive tapes placed on pallet loads, this encloses top and bottom layers of the stretch to subject the loads to stability. Since less wrap is used it has an impact of decreased film purchasing, reduced warehouse facility space, wastage collection and disposal expenses.
Italy’s Rovel boasts at its creation of Power Wrap – a highly translucent 9 micron thin stretch film with highly developed cling. It can secure load stability and security at lower weights, up to 55% less than standard pallet films while utilising fewer raw materials. For the customer groups who have their sustainability programs in place, Power Wrap makes it possible for them to achieve a measurable change to their plastic consumption.
Propafilm Strata reducible-gauge stretch wrap film has been introduced to the market by Innovia Films. High performance resins combined with precision cooling technology give the uniform films at lower thickness (14-16 micron). Currently packaging engineers can reduce the machinery gauge and it can use less film per pallet all without affecting its efficiency. This also yields catchment benefits of positive sustainability impacts from source reduction.
The Recent Shift to Sustainability with Stretch Films
This research discusses how consumers, sustainability initiatives and circular economy regulations are forcing businesses to embrace environmental friendly stretch wrapping systems. Recyclable, biodegradable and reduced plastic films enable the business adopt sustainable raw materials, minimized disposal of plastics and reduction of carbon footprint.
Nevertheless, part of the best current practices such as modified atmosphere packaging and unitization of pallet loads for transportation will persist, advancing stretch wrap products enables this be done more sustainably. Technological developments in the material science and manufacturing technology nowadays make it possible to get recyclable and compostable films which can be thinner than before to achieve good technical characteristics enough to stabilize the pallet loads.
With sustainable packaging strategies embracing stringently different global supply chains, only if eco friendly stretch wrap solutions follow corporate social responsibility constants that are demanded by consumers. This encourages the prudent utilization of resource and minimizing on wastage within the supply chain industry.