Shrink Packaging and Sustainability: Less Plastic, More Efficiency
Shrink Packaging and Sustainability: How to Package with Less Plastic and More Efficiency
In recent years, the packaging industry has undergone a major transformation, driven by growing environmental awareness and increasingly stringent regulations. In particular, shrink packaging—long appreciated for its protective effectiveness and high visual quality—is now at the center of a shift toward more sustainable solutions.
But what does it really mean to package sustainably? Is it possible to maintain high performance while reducing environmental impact? What are the eco-friendly alternatives to traditional shrink films? This article explores these questions with a technical and practical focus, looking at European regulations and the solutions offered by PACTUR.
🌍 Sustainability in Packaging: From Trend to Necessity
Until recently, sustainability in packaging was seen as a plus. Today, it’s a necessity. Consumers, companies, suppliers, and institutions demand more environmentally friendly packaging. This applies to every sector—from consumer goods to food, cosmetics to mechanical components.
Shrink packaging has often been criticized for its use of plastic, but it’s also one of the fields where significant innovations have emerged to reduce environmental impact.
PACTUR has taken a proactive approach, offering solutions that combine technical performance, energy efficiency, and environmental respect, without compromising packaging quality.
📦 What Is
Sustainable Shrink Packaging ?
Sustainable packaging:
- Uses fewer and/or recyclable materials
- Is produced with low-energy machinery
- Minimizes waste during the packaging process
- Optimizes the packed product volume (e.g., for transport)
- Complies with current environmental legislation
In the case of shrink packaging, the main strategies are:
- Using thinner but resistant films
- Adopting recyclable or recycled-content materials
- Optimizing the shrink process with efficient machines
- Custom-designed packages to reduce excess material
♻️ Materials: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Traditional Films
The type of film used is crucial. Common materials in shrink packaging include PVC, POF (polyolefin), and PE (polyethylene). Today, more sustainable versions exist that reduce plastic use without sacrificing quality and protection.
PVC: Still Common
PVC film is appreciated for its shine and rigidity but is not very recyclable and unsuitable for some applications. It may release harmful chlorides when burned. PACTUR recommends its use only in specific cases and promotes more eco-friendly alternatives.
Polyolefin (POF): Versatile and More Sustainable
Polyolefin is a shrinkable, transparent, and flexible material. Some manufacturers now offer eco-friendly versions of POF with reduced thickness (e.g., 12 or 13 microns instead of the usual 19 or 25) and up to 30% recycled content. These films provide the same performance with less plastic.
Polyethylene (PE): The King of Recyclability
PE, mainly used for sleeve wrappers (not transparent but strong films), is fully recyclable and can be regenerated multiple times. Pactur integrates recycled PE films in its sleeve wrapping machines, with excellent results in terms of strength and protection.
Compostable and Bio-Based Films
In some sectors, compostable or plant-based films (PLA, corn-derived) are emerging. These materials are still costly and have technical limitations, but represent a promising development area. Pactur monitors this trend carefully for future integration.
🔬 Reducing Thickness While Maintaining Performance
One of the strongest trends in sustainable packaging is reducing film thickness. Thanks to more advanced extrusion technologies, it’s now possible to produce 12 or 13-micron rolls that perform like 19 or 25-micron ones.
PACTUR regularly tests these materials on its machines and promotes the use of ultra-thin films to cut plastic usage by up to 40% compared to traditional options.
The benefit is not only environmental: thinner films reduce material cost, packaging weight, and optimize logistics and transport costs.
📜 European and Italian Regulations: What’s Changing in Packaging
The European regulatory framework on packaging is evolving. Leading the change is the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which aims to replace Directive 94/62/EC. The new regulation targets:
- A 15% reduction in packaging waste by 2040
- Phasing out unnecessary packaging (e.g., empty or oversized)
- Ensuring all packaging is recyclable by 2030
- Introducing mandatory minimum percentages of recycled content in plastic films
For packaging manufacturers and users, this means redefining materials, formats, and processes. Italy’s Circular Economy Action Plan (D.Lgs. 116/2020) also supports this direction. Moreover, CONAI already applies differentiated environmental contributions based on recyclability: those using easily recyclable materials pay less.
PACTUR assists its clients with this as well: selecting the right film is no longer just a technical matter—it’s also an economic and regulatory decision.
⚡ Energy Efficiency in Packaging: A Key Factor
The sustainability of packaging is not only about materials. Energy consumption also plays a key role. An efficient shrink wrapping machine can significantly reduce the environmental impact of each cycle.
Pactur shrink wrapping machines are designed to:
- Reduce oven warm-up time
- Optimize the thermal cycle with smart logic
- Limit power consumption spikes
- Activate heaters and motors only when needed (advanced standby mode)
These features lead to an average energy saving of 20–30% compared to outdated or poorly tuned machines. In addition, advanced electronics (inverters, PLCs, sensors) allow for precise control of operating parameters, reducing waste and improving packaging uniformity.
🔧 The Role of Pactur Machines in Sustainable Packaging
PACTUR has long been committed to designing machines that are not only high-performing but also environmentally oriented. This commitment takes shape in several technical solutions:
1. Machines Compatible with Ultra-Thin Films
Pactur’s sealers and shrink machines are tested with films as thin as 12 microns. Thanks to electronic temperature control and precise sealing blades, even delicate films are handled without tearing or burning. This enables the use of less plastic while still achieving professional results.
2. High-Efficiency Shrink Tunnels
Integrated or separate ovens feature optimized electric resistors, advanced insulation, and intelligent airflow control. This ensures lower consumption with consistent shrink results. Reducing external heat loss also improves the working environment on the production line.
3. Custom Solutions to Minimize Waste
Many Pactur customers request custom-built machines for specific formats. Designing a machine around the real product avoids film overuse, reduces package volume, and minimizes the need for support materials like cardboard or interlayers. Custom-fit packaging is a powerful green lever.
4. User Interface with Saveable Parameters
Every Pactur machine with a PLC and touchscreen lets users save working recipes, reducing the risk of human error. This means: fewer rejected items, less wasted film, and more consistent consumption levels.
📈 A Concrete Case: 35% Film Consumption Reduction
A cosmetic sector client replaced an old semi-automatic machine with a new Pactur angular sealing shrink wrapper. After analyzing materials, they switched from a 19-micron film to a 13-micron one, while maintaining the same level of visual and physical product protection.
The result? In less than 6 months:
- 35% reduction in film consumption
- Direct savings on material costs
- Compliance with large-scale retail requirements
- Access to a lower CONAI environmental fee thanks to improved recyclability
This clearly shows how sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand in the packaging world.
🔄 The Circular Approach to Packaging
The concept of circular economy applies perfectly to shrink packaging. It means choosing materials that can be reintroduced into the production cycle, reducing waste, and designing every phase of packaging with the goal of minimizing environmental impact.
Pactur integrates this logic into every phase: from selecting film suppliers, to pre-sales consulting, to customized automatic line design. Every project is a step toward more responsible packaging.
✅ Why Sustainable Shrink Packaging Makes Sense
Adopting sustainable solutions in shrink packaging is not only an ethical or regulatory issue. It’s also a strategic choice that brings tangible benefits operationally, commercially, and in terms of brand image.
1. Competitive Advantage
Many large-scale distribution buyers prioritize suppliers that offer low-impact packaging solutions. Sustainable packaging is a distinctive element that opens new business opportunities, even abroad.
2. Long-Term Cost Reduction
Even if eco-friendly materials may initially cost more, over time they allow you to:
- Reduce film thickness
- Lower packaging volume and weight
- Optimize transport
- Reduce disposal costs
3. Compliance with Regulations
Those who anticipate legal requirements will be better positioned when they become mandatory. Pactur advises clients to adapt now, to avoid rushed changes later on.
4. Improved Brand Image
Communicating sustainable choices builds customer trust, enhances reputation, and strengthens market positioning.
🔮 Future Trends in Shrink Packaging
The packaging world is evolving rapidly. Here are some trends that will shape the sector in the coming years:
1. Smart and Traceable Films
Advanced films are emerging with features like temperature indicators, invisible QR codes for traceability, or color-changing properties depending on humidity. The combination of sustainability and smart packaging is a highly promising frontier.
2. Integration with Industry 4.0
Pactur’s shrink wrappers are already prepared for industrial interconnection. In the future, remote monitoring of consumption, optimization of packaging recipes, and predictive maintenance will become increasingly common — all helping to further reduce waste and energy usage.
3. Development of High-Performance Bio-Based Films
Research on compostable and bio-based films (e.g., corn-derived PLA, potato starch) is progressing. Within a few years, they may become a viable alternative for packaging food, cosmetics, and more.
4. Reduced Secondary Packaging
The concept of “overpackaging” is under scrutiny. The focus is shifting toward more minimal packaging and mono-material solutions. Pactur’s packaging lines help optimize this aspect with custom configurations and precise sealing.
🔁 PACTUR and the Journey Toward More Sustainable Packaging
PACTUR is more than a machine manufacturer. It guides each client through a conscious improvement path, offering:
- Analysis of current packaging solutions
- Consultation on compatible eco-friendly films
- Optimal machine configuration for the specific product
- Post-sales support focused on savings and efficiency
The goal is to make sustainability a benefit, not an obstacle. Whether for small artisan production or a large industrial line, Pactur can offer the most suitable solution.
📞 Want to Learn More About Our Sustainable Solutions?
Contact us for a personalized consultation: we’ll help you evaluate the best materials and packaging machines for your product and your market.
See our other multilingual websites: PACTUR.EU
