Stretch Film is a film commonly used for packing, wrapping, and shipping of many types of items. You know it as the “stretchy” clear film often used to secure items shipped on wooden pallets. Stretch film is made from low-density polyethylene and is known for its ability to stretch when pulled. You will commonly see it labeled as recycle code “4”.
When it comes to packaging, source reduction and sustainability are points of concern. Driven by many factors such as cost reduction potential, social pressure, and supplier scorecards tracked by mass retailers, and even just general awareness raised, manufacturers have ample motivation to reduce the packaging materials produced and used.
Going green comes with other factors to consider as well, one example being the net impact of the changes implemented. In some cases, increased damage that results in unsalable products with a landfill fate may actually outweigh some initiatives for packaging reduction. Post-consumer recycled content is another factor, which begs the question– can stretch film be recycled?
In short, yes, stretch film can be recycled. Stretch film is generally made with linear low density polyethylene, or LLDPE, landing it as a category four item in recycling programs.
For many plastics the real world answer is more complex. For example, imagine collecting and sorting the films that wrap cigarette packs. It would be wholly impractical. In contrast to plastic packaging for retail which is widely distributed in small amounts, stretch film can be recaptured in centralized warehouses. Which means not only can stretch film be recycled in theory, but it’s actually feasible from the standpoints of both practicality and economics.
American Plastics Council and The Society of the Plastics Industry collaborated in the mid 90s on a comprehensive Stretch wrap recycling guide which is still relevant and applicable today. Download that guide here.
While market considerations within are somewhat dated, the sections on physical collection and consolidation serve as a great jumping off point for a stretch film recycling program. Tips on training employees and general awareness, as well as baling and storage remain applicable for today’s warehouse operations.
Packaging World recently noted the release of an updated Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability from the Association for Plastics Recyclers (@APRecycles.) Therein APR Design® Guide specifically addresses plastic packaging, but the same principles are applicable to all plastic items with the potential for recycling.
Plastic packaging is quite ubiquitous making it a great target for sustainability and recycling programs. The benefits are also well known, from food safety to merchandising and shelf life to volume reduction and beyond.
On top of that, systems that have already been developed to support plastic packaging, such as stretch wrap recycling, may be the necessary key to broader successes with all plastics recycling, which is not without its own challenges.
Recycling stretch film is more practical than recycling plastics used in retail packaging, as noted above, yet plastics recycling rates remain low in general.
A 2016 report, “The New Plastics Economy; Rethinking the future of plastics,” which was a collaboration between the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, World Economic Forum and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, takes a systemic look at the life cycle of plastics, from production to packaging to waste.
The report calls out the importance of what they refer to as an “after use plastics economy,” in other words, a financially supportable ecosystem for collection and recycling.
The potential benefits suggested include a substantial increase in the current 5% rate of recapture for single use items. Since that 5% roughly equates to $4-6 billion annually, it’s easy to see how small incremental improvements could result in substantial impact.
In this vein, companies such as Nestle Waters of North America are focused on supporting this high level shift through efforts like EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) as Packaging World’s Ann Marie Mohan (@PackagingTrends) recently discussed with Nestle’s Nelson Switzer (@NelsonSwitzer). “Packaging now accounts for 41% of Nestlé Waters’ footprint—down from 49% in 2010—as a result of light weighting our bottles”, Switzer said. “But it’s only one approach. At NWNA, we are also focusing on innovative packaging design, partnership, education, and internal operating efficiency. The solution to closing the loop on packaging will require a multitude of solutions.”
Even before we are able to achieve a “New Plastics Economy”, more people are asking whether stretch film can be recycled and looking into how to do so, which means the rate of post consumer film recycling is improving.
A 2014 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag & Film Recycling Report, prepared in January, 2016 by Moore Recycling Associates Inc. for the American Chemistry Council, shows a steady increase in the rate of post consumer film recovery in support of recycling. So although systems are not perfect, they are improving and awareness is improving as well.
Nearly any shipping/receiving operation can find themselves better set up to support stretch wrap recycling with just a few process improvements within their warehouses, such as some inexpensive equipment that makes this doable.
Of course, recycling more is a worthwhile goal for any company, but many of them could actually make even more of an impact by finding ways to use less of the film as well.
Thinner gauge film does not always mean less film used. The traditional 3 wraps bottom, up the load, 3 wraps top, back down the load wrap pattern is not actually necessary or optimal for every product. And the optimal pre-stretch percentage depends on a number of variables.
All that said, the bottom line is always film weight. Once the pre-stretch, film gauge, and wrap pattern are optimized for the product at hand, then film should be cut and weighed. That is the way to really quantify use, and the touchpoint against which changes should be measured for overall impact, since proper containment force means there will be no unsalable or damaged products to net against film savings within the waste stream.
So in short, stretch film can be recycled, and simple steps can also reduce the amount used for even greater impact.
At iSustain, we are a full service recycling and waste company with one goal in mind, help our clients reduce costs and eliminate landfill. Whether your company is purchasing recycling equipment for the first time, or if this additional equipment, iSustain can tailor a solution to your unique situation.
