When you’re looking at flexible packaging types, you may wonder if you need shrink film or biaxially oriented polypropylene film (known as BOPP).
You may not know what the types of these are, and you also may not know the difference too.
You may not also have a comparison of either or as well, which is where we come in.
Luckily, we’ll do it for you, to help you choose the packaging that you need.
Shrink Film
Shrink film or shrink wrap is flexible packaging for food, games, and other goods. It’s made from either polyethylene, polyolefin, or polyvinyl chloride, so there are tons of ways to use this.
When using this, the package is then put into a sleeve made from this, called a sealer, and from there, it moves from one conveyer belt to another, and then a heat tunnel.
Then, it get sheated up to create a seal, and then it’s packed to be shipped out.
What about BOPP?
Bopp of course is flexible packaging, and it’s heated as well in a tunnel, but then there’s an overwrap film that’s on there to package the products in place. Overwrap film applies the film over products or to other film containing said product.
BOPP is usually used to package food and usuaually is done with this. They are also using this as a replacement for cellophane in terms of applications, such as ciarette or other packaging.
This is becoming more and more of the packaging tha’ts used because it’s more sustainable for lower costs as well.
It usually also has increased barrier factors including the water vapor and oxygen resistance in this, and it is better in BOPP ythan the shrink film altnerative.
What to Use?
At the end of the day, it’s your choice on what types of flexible packaging should be used.
For starters, do the products react to heat, then if yes, use BOPP for this.
If you want something that holds the packages and products in a uniform manner, then you’ll want shrink film.
If you want to increase the barrier of oxygen and water vapor, then also choose BOPP over traditional shrink film.
If you want a lighter gauge of packaging for this, and if you believe so, you should use light gauge shrink film for this kind of packaging.
If you’re looking to have a larger resistance to impact along with flexcrack, then BOPP is ideal for packaging.
If you want to avoid using plastic, well….neithe rof those are rightful choices.
And finally, if you want biodegradable packaging for your products, the best option out of those wis shrink film that’s biodegradable.
Hopefully, this does help you with choosing.
Again, if you’re not sure whether or not you’re ready to use one or the other on these, talk to the provier and see what they can get for you, along with any other perks and benefits they might offer.
There are a lot of great alternatives to regular packaging film and different factors that go into it. Iuf you’re not sure, you may want to look into this, and you should definitely make sure that you do factor in all of the costs before you begin.
But of course, you definitely will benefit from this, and it’s something that will definitely become easier over time. Shrink film and BOPP film are definitely different, and at the end of the day, you should wqeight in the options, talk to the provder, and from there, make sure that you’re getting the results that you want from your plastic packaging ventures as well.