Today, the shrink packaging community is encouraging the practice of downgauging, meaning the usage of a smaller gauge of shrink film and, thus, using less materials.

But slimming down the film used can quickly lead to disaster: if a downgauged package rips, bursts, causes problems on the packaging line, or doesn’t meet the consumer expectations, any cost and sustainability gains are already gone.opti_films_produce

Traditionally, high-level gauge shrink films were common; often, companies picked their film because it was the first film to work correctly with their equipment. And once operations were running, there was seldom time to reevaluate film choices.

Now, as environmental sustainability because the business buzzword of the decade, there has been an unprecedented increase in pressure for manufacturers to deliver not only cost and material savings, but also demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices.

Fortunately, advances in material technology—from resin blends to manufacturing processes—have made thinner, stronger shrink films a viable solution for more applications than ever.  And these next-generation thin films are not just light in weight, they’re specifically engineered for targeted performance attributes.

Chances are that if you are running the same gauge film you’ve run for the last five years, it’s worth evaluating possible alternatives; many companies find that they can downgauge their package anywhere from 10% to 25% with some reducing materials by as much as 50%.

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