Polyethylene (PE) films are the most popular choice for packaging

Choosing the right Packaging Film will help ensure your products are safely shipped, remain healthy, and look great. However, selecting the right film for your needs requires a complete understanding of its types and raw materials as well as their similarities, differences, and applications.

Plastic films are used to protect and encase products during storage, handling, transportation, and in shipping. They can shield goods from deteriorating agents such as light, moisture and gas, and help retain the qualities of contents including freshness and aroma. They also protect products from contaminants and other harmful substances.

The global market for Packaging Film is primarily driven by the Asia Pacific region which accounts for over half of its demand due to a large population of middle-class citizens with increasing disposable incomes and high consumption of packaged food and pharmaceuticals in the region. The growing e-commerce sector in the region is another factor fuelling its growth.

Polyethylene (PE) films are the most popular choice for packaging, with a variety of options available based on specific needs. Low-density PE (LDPE) is soft, puncture resistant, highly transparent and heat-sealable, making it an ideal choice for product packaging and tubing. Medium-density and higher-density LDPE is commonly used for packaging miscellaneous edible items, such as rice and pet foods. High-density LDPE is often employed to package pharmaceutical products such as tablets and facial masks.

Other types of plastic film are used in a wide range of packaging and manufacturing processes, from side-seal pouches for food and textiles to stand-up zipper pouches for electronics and documents. Cast unoriented ploypropylene (CUP) is an excellent choice for many traditional and modern packaging applications because of its low moisture permeability, heat resistance, good mechanical strength and thermal sealing capabilities. CUP is available in various thicknesses and can be produced with a variety of additives to enhance performance for different applications.

Another advantage of flexible plastic film is its ability to be customized to fit unique specs and visual needs, allowing companies to add tamper-resistance, a protective barrier, or other properties. The flexibility of the film can also reduce costs by limiting the need to use multiple types of rigid packaging.

The most important characteristics of a plastic film include its thickness, basis weight or density, and tensile and elongation at break strength. Thickness is important because it affects printability, heat seal strength and mechanical strength, while elongation at break determines the amount of force required to break the film.

Other important characteristics of a plastic film include its surface finish and clarity. A smooth surface helps ensure printing quality, and clarity is critical to ensuring that the film can be seen from all angles. Lamination, the process by which ink is bonded to a film, can also affect its clarity. Films are typically tested to determine their tensile and elongation strengths, as well as the strength of their heat seal and cold-seal. The tensile and elongation tests can be performed by hand or with equipment such as a tensometer or digital image analyzer.