Sustainable collation shrink films containing 50% post-consumer recycled content maintain performance

ExxonMobil and Barbier collaborated to develop an innovative solution that allows the incorporation of Post-Consumer Recycled content (PCR) polyethylene in collation shrink films without compromising performance, film thickness or processability.

The recycled content is generated by Barbier a leading polyethylene (PE) film converter and recycler  from postconsumer waste collected in France.  The PCR originates from industrial packaging waste generated at supermarkets, a stream of transparent shrink and stretch films. Incorporating 50% PCR of such a mixed and variable stream in a technical film like collation shrink is a challenge.

Including recycled PE content in the film without impacting performance compared to films made with 100% virgin PE  is key for brand owners and consumers.  Working together they developed a film formulation which acts as a performance booster when combined with PCR PE content in demanding applications like collation shrink films. Full traceability between collection, recycling, extrusion and printing also provides a guarantee to customers.

The collaboration between Barbier and ExxonMobil contributes to a more circular economy for packaging having resulted in the fabrication of collation shrink film solutions that deliver:

• A sustainable solution including 50% Post-Consumer Recycled plastic content;
• No degradation in mechanical properties for packages with minimal risk of breakage;
• Optical properties, such a gloss and transparency, that allow brand owners to promote products effectively;
• Moderate operational changes to the end-user’s machine settings.

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