Packaging products and services provider Clondalkin Flexible Packaging Bury (formerly Chadwicks) has launched recycled shrink sleeve material.
The material features post-consumer recycled content (PCR) which decreases landfill waste, greenhouse gases and energy consumption.
The use of PCR in the new materials will not affect the quality of the finished product, thus retaining the film clarity, print quality and shrinkage properties found in standard polyethylene terephthalate (PET) shrink sleeve film material.
Additionally, the PCR helps the material in reducing landfill waste, greenhouse gases and energy consumption.
Clondalkin has partnered with an undisclosed UK-based thermoplastic distributor to develop the new shrink sleeve technology.
Clondalkin shrink sleeve technical manager Paul Mayall said: “The introduction of this new shrink sleeve material is an example of the company’s continued commitment to innovation and sustainable packaging solutions.
“Producing packaging with green attributes can be challenging with food and beverage contact applications as there are much stricter regulations, therefore this is a significant breakthrough for the market.
“As more and more brands become increasingly environmentally conscious, we have to look for innovative ways to develop our own packaging solutions to meet this demand.”
Shrink sleeves are labels which are applied to the product and then shrunk using heat. This allows the sleeves to fit the exact contours of the product.
The material is primarily used for beverage packaging, food packaging, home and personal care packaging as well as certain industrial products. It is said to offer a great packaging option for products that are packaged in containers such as bottles or pots.
Clondalkin produces shrink sleeves in a number of different materials including PVC, OPS and PET using printing technologies such as Gravure, UV Offset Litho and UV Flexo.
The firm is focused on developing coated and laminated waxed papers and foils, as well as pre-cut lids, polymer-based sheets, rolls, sleeves and bags for the food, dairy, beverage, personal care and household sectors.
