Discovering Exciting New Uses for ‘Green’ Film Technology
- Published: June 24, 2022
What if using a commercially compostable film could help you not only eliminate the use of potentially polluting plastic wrap, but also give you better results? That is what one boutique industry discovered when running a trial of Cortec® Eco Works® 10 Film as part of its manufacturing process. Eco Works® 10 not only aligned with the company’s mission to eliminate plastic waste— it was also easier to work with than their previous plastic wrap.
Industrially Compostable Film Technology
Eco Works® 10 is a specialty industrially compostable film that recently received the ‘OK compost INDUSTRIAL’ certificate from TÜV Austria. This certifies that Eco Works® 10 conforms to the EN 13432 standard (European equivalent of ASTM D6400) for industrial compostability.* It also contains 10 percent renewable content. Eco Works® 10 Film and Bags can be used like any other film and bag material to package small parts, gather organic waste, serve as shopping bags and more.
Unique Application with Exciting Results
As mentioned, Eco Works® 10 has been used creatively by a small business whose mission is to reduce plastic packaging for hair and body care products. Their personal hygiene products take the form of artistically designed soap-like bars shaped in molds. While the company succeeded in replacing plastic bottles by creating these attractive hand-held bars, some plastic film is still utilized to line the molds during manufacturing. Workers sometimes had trouble with their previous plastic wrap sticking to the hygiene bars. When they tried Eco Works® 10 as a substitute, there was no problem with sticking. The Eco Works® 10 could also be used multiple times, reducing material waste.
Eco Works® 10 was an excellent match for the customer in at least two ways. Not only did it work better for the manufacturing process, it was another step the company could take toward reducing their volume of conventional plastic waste. This enhances their eco-conscious image and mission.
Replacing Conventional Stretch Film
In addition to their unique use of Eco Works® 10, the same manufacturer also tried Eco Wrap® on its automated stretch wrap equipment to palletize boxes of finished goods. Eco Wrap® is also ‘OK compost INDUSTRIAL’ certified by TÜV Austria.* It can replace conventional stretch film in a variety of applications:
- Agriculture bundling (e.g., hay bales and lumber)
- Corralling of goods for storage and shipment
- Pallet wrapping
- Luggage wrapping at airports
- Packaging construction materials
- Transporting furniture
Eco Wrap® is extremely elastic and works on most existing automated machines, simply by adjusting (typically increasing) the tension.
Plastic film and stretch wrap are so commonly used that they have become a societal norm. Replacing these pervasive sources of plastic waste with materials that are certified to meet standards of industrial compostability is an exciting way to take another step closer toward “greener” packaging. Learn more at https://www.cortecvci.com/ .
