Few packaging subjects elicit more of a conversation than sustainability these days. For a product as ubiquitous as stretch film, it’s common for daily misperceptions to distort the truth of how it affects our environment. We believe having a choice is just as important as making the right choice. Our foundation product line is not about performance alone, it's about responsible production and life cycle. You’ve heard enough rumors. Let’s debunk the myths when it comes to stretch film sustainability.
The Myth of Inherent Waste
Some folks may buy into the myth that all stretch film is automatically wasteful, destined for a lifetime in a landfill after one use only. This is a result of the narrow view towards product life cycle. The truth is that today’s stretch film, especially within our stable of core products, is engineered for quality well beyond its elemental use. The main purpose of high-performance stretch film is to stabilize and protect palleted product during shipment. A thin, light layer of film keeps a lot of waste out of the landfill by avoiding load failure, product damage and re-shipping. True waste is when a load fails, not when a critically small amount of film is utilized to secure it properly. We do this by making films that are able to do more with less and thereby directly reduce waste upstream.
The Fact of Material Science and Reduction
Most people believe that sustainable packaging can only be made with wildly different materials, often biodegradable. Although innovation progresses, the largest tangible improvements in sustainability result from less material used. This is a fundamental truth we use to drive our product development. With cutting-edge polymer technology and proven research we create stretch film products that are thinner, stronger and more reliable than anything else on the market. This gives our customers the ability to use less film per pallet, while maintaining load integrity. This continuous push for downgauging is good news indeed - less raw material used, and that much less transport energy expended. Sustainability is often about efficiency, and our line of core products is a case in point.
The Reality Behind Recyclability and End-of-Life
One of the biggest myths is that stretch film can't be part of a circular economy. The reality is that a good deal of stretch films, including certain grades we manufacture, are entirely recyclable. The problem has more often been collection and infrastructure, not the material itself. The plastics industry is making a concerted effort to enhance recycling streams for low density polyethylene (LDPE), which is what high-quality stretch film uses. In addition, the meaning of end-of-life is changing. Outlasting recycle, the true value of a stretch film is determined by how well it maintains product integrity and regains its original form. As such, we are dedicated to researching and adopting initiatives that promote a circular path for our products so they can be recognized as an investment rather than waste bound for disposal.
Sustainability: At Shanghai Pudi Packaging Materials Co., Ltd, we don't just talk about sustainability - it is embedded in our core stretch film product line. By demystifying these myths with cold hard truths, we can help our customers view packaging as a strategic asset to fulfill their business and sustainability goals. The road to a more sustainable future is ongoing, and we are committed to innovation, transparency and performance leadership.