Stretch film is an important yet problematic part of our plastic industry. Holding a market share of 16.8 billion USD,1 stretch film is used across millions of businesses to secure items for transit. It’s cost-effective and easy to use, offering several benefits including improving stability, handling, and protection from the elements. However, the impact on the environment is not to be ignored. From production, and use to disposal, stretch film has an immense impact on our planet. With business needs unlikely in the near future, the stretch film offers an opportunity for sustainable change that could be reflected across the entire plastic industry.
Historically, stretch film is made from petroleum-based films made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE).2 The flexibility and elasticity of LDPE allow the film to stretch around goods creating tension that keeps them in place. This is enhanced by a thin layer of adhesive on either side of the stretch wrap that helps it stick to packages and pallets.3 With such universal benefits it’s no surprise that the stretch and shrink film industry is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030.4
The Widespread Usage and Growth of The Stretch Film Industry
A key driver for this is the growth in the food and beverage industry. Food and beverage accounted for the largest revenue across the stretch and shrink wrap industry with a share of 40.6% in 2021.5 An increasing reliance on stretch film is needed to meet the rising demand for ready-to-eat meals, takeout, and snack foods, as well as transportation of cans and bulk beverages such as coffee. This is reflected globally, particularly in economies such as China, India, and Brazil where the food and beverage industry is experiencing exponential growth.6 Access to stretch film, as well as packaging in general, is a key catalyst for economic growth.
These aren’t the only properties of stretch film that have accelerated its global usage. LDPE is considered one of the ‘safest’ plastics for use. It’s deemed as non-toxic and non-hazardous making it suitable for contact with humans and animals, with low toxicity on aquatic organisms.7 However, all plastic contains additives, many of which remain understudied. Additives that have been researched have been found to be toxic. Many contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes, and prostate or breast cancer. Beyond the chemicals, the microplastics that products such as stretch film disintegrate into allow the plastic to be digested. Not only is this harmful in its own right but the microplastics also act as a pathway for pathogens to enter both human and animal bodies.8
Microplastics have been found in human blood, human lungs, and newborn placentas. Plastic waste can be found in the guts of 90% of the world’s sea birds,9 in the stomachs of half the world’s sea turtles, and by 2050 ocean plastic will outnumber the global population of fish10.
Concerns About The Toxicity and Microplastics in Stretch Film
While recycling offers a solution to this problem, it’s been found to be relatively ineffective. Stretch-film is a single-use plastic, a category that accounts for 40% of total plastic production a year.11 85% of single-use plastic ends up in the landfill either because it hasn’t been properly recycled or because it can’t be. The relationship between single-use plastic and recycling is equally as weak during manufacture as it is during disposal. 98% of single-use plastics are made from virgin feed rather than recycled plastic.12 Currently, only 5.4% of stretch wrap produced in the US is ever recycled.13 But the industry is starting to address this issue. Better solutions have started to arise.
The stretch wrap industry and supporting businesses have started to make strides toward a more sustainable future. Demand for the recycled stretch wrap is not only good but increasing.14 Businesses of all sizes are starting to make changes, with smaller companies in particular offering customized products to end-users. This has fuelled various product innovations and new product launches across the board to create a new future for stretch film.
Ineffectiveness of Recycling Single-Use Stretch Film
The industry has seen corrosion solution company, Cortec, release a compostable machine-grade stretch film.15 Mondi launched Advantage Paper-Based stretch film which offers a plastic-free alternative with 62% fewer greenhouse emissions to virgin plastic petroleum wrap.16 PalBand has innovated a reusable stretch pallet wrap to offer a placement to plastic stretch wrap.17 With regard to existing petroleum stretch wrap, the industry is seeing more recycling solutions emerge. Nextrex, Sustain Recycling and AAAPolymer are a handful of the companies globally that are helping to chip away at stretch wrap’s contribution to plastic pollution. But what is still missing is a solution that meets business, consumer, and environmental needs equally. What is still missing is a long-sighted innovation that doesn’t solely offer an alternative to petroleum-based stretch wrap but an opportunity to revolutionize the plastic and packaging industry. This need drove Dizolv to discover an answer in the form of our product[a].
Dizolv has invented a new substrate that resembles plastic but decomposes like paper leaving no microplastics. Our stretch wrap is our launch innovation to address the needs of industry and the demands of the planet. But as a B2B packaging company, we haven’t tackled these issues by simply creating a stretch film. We’ve created a base product with endless applications. Our product is plug and plays into existing manufacturing systems, 100% compostable and cost comparable.
Innovations and Solutions For a More Sustainable Future in The Stretch Film Industry
It is clear that stretch film is an integral part of the many industries that contribute to economic growth and stability, while also contributing to the damage and pollution of our environment. But what is also true is the potential for better that can be realized by those willing to put the resources, time, and investment behind it.
Sources:
https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/stretch-and-shrink-film-market-10861
https://www.rajapack.co.uk/blog-uk/the-difference-between-stretch-film-and-eco-stretch-film
https://www.swiftpak.co.uk/insights/the-complete-guide-to-stretch-wrap-updated-2022
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/stretch-and-shrink-films-market
https://www.ril.com/DownloadFiles/Polymers/assessment/pra_relene_pe_ldp.pdf
https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/plastics-and-health/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2018/04/23/five-ways-that-plastics-harm-the-environment-and-one-way-they-may-help/?sh=1c498ed167a0
https://www.wwf.org.uk/myfootprint/challenges/will-there-be-more-plastic-fish-sea
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution
https://www.aaapolymer.com/stretch-film-recycling/
https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution/
https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/stretch-and-shrink-films-market
https://www.mltanalytics.com/post/paper-based-pallet-stretch-wrap-shows-lower-climate-impact-than-plastic
https://palband.com/
[a]” novel substrate”