Stretch Packaging Materials

Accordion Content

We have consistently achieved ‘AA’ grade BRC certification in the Global Standard for Storage and Distribution for many years, something which we know is of paramount importance to our customers. Our film manufacturing sites are also BRC certified. Certificates are available upon request.

A call-off order is a fantastic service we offer at YPS to ensure that we always have your packaging material ready for just when you need it! It offers our customers flexibility and freedom by reserving their shrink film, stretch film or polybags in our large 20,000 sq ft warehouse, with the convenience of paying for it as they take it ‘on tap’. All that is needed is a purchase order for an agreed amount of film, from which amounts can be taken as and when required, until the purchase order has been completely fulfilled. This call-off facility may also help some customers delay price increases due to changes in the market, when arranged with their YPS account manager.

The UK Plastic Packaging Tax introduced in April 2022 imposes a £200 per tonne levy on manufactured or imported plastic packaging materials that contain less than 30% certified recycled content.

Yorkshire Packaging have been working closely with our manufacturing sites for a number of years to develop and bring to market a range of flexible films that contain over 30% and as much as 98% recycled content which are exempt from the tax. Look for the green logo stating ‘Also available with recycled content’ on our packaging material webpages to identify the conforming products.

OPRL is an initiative, in conjunction with WRAP UK, to demonstrate recycling possibilities for packaging more widely and clearly. The On-Pack Recycling Label delivers a simple, UK-wide, consistent recycling message for use on both retailer private label and brand-owner packaging. Unlike other recycling labels, the scheme is based on current local authority recycling services and reflects what can be recycled, and where. This enables more consumers to recycle more material correctly, more often.

‘PCW’ is an abbreviation of the term ‘post-consumer waste’, whilst ‘PIW’ stands for ‘post-industrial waste’. Although flexible films containing either one of these are greener for our planet, there is a distinct difference between the two. PCW films are composed of material that has been through the stages of manufacture, consumption and recycling before being cleaned and re-granulated to be repurposed into new films. This means that PCW/recycled-content films are a ‘closed loop’ solution.

PIW films by contrast are composed of virgin polymers, albeit virgin materials which would otherwise be classified as a waste by-product of the plastic film manufacturing process or from a production line environment. These PIW resins, which could include trimmed plastic from a master reel in manufacture, for example, are still beneficial for the environment because they prevent unnecessary waste and repurpose material that is still fit for use. In essence, PIW films are a recycled raw material.  

Shrink film is designed to constrict with the application of heat to produce a complete seal around an object. The finished effect is a plastic outer layer that is moulded around the shape of the product within. Stretch wrap (also known as ‘Pallet Wrap’) is used to secure items stacked together on a pallet prior to transportation, in order to provide stability and protection. Stretch film has an adhesive surface that clings to itself as it is wound around a load and the tension that is created maintains the bundled structure.

A blown film is created when a thick layer of extruded film emerges from a circular die and a large bubble of air is blown inside. The volume of the bubble and the original diameter and thickness of the extruded tube determine the ultimate thickness of the material. The vertical bubble, which may be many feet tall, allows the film to cool gradually as it is pulled up by rollers which then collapse the bubble and control the thin, flat tube of film as it is wound.

Cast films are produced through a linear die and ooze out onto large diameter chilling rollers. Depending on the original thickness of extrusion, sometimes the film is thinned to the target gauge by winding the resulting film faster than it is extruded. This is a horizontal process. Cast stretch films are the most common type of stretch films.

Cast films boast exceptional clarity and shine, which is useful in warehouses that use barcode scanners to identify pallets. They have excellent cling, high strength and high resist tear propagation. Their stretch capacity is up to 300% and their differential tack gives them great pallet holding properties. A low unwind noise makes cast films ideal for use in quieter working environments. By contrast, blown films have a maximum stretch of 250%, yet still offer high strength and puncture resistance. Available in clear, blue or black they have a high tack outer face and low tack inner face for elevated levels of cling. Either type of manufactured film lends itself to hand wrap and machine applications.