To reduce reliance on virgin plastic, packaging company Coveris has launched a new generation of lightweight stretch films that contain 30% recycled content. These low-gauge, yet high-performing films are made with recycled polythene, recovered from post-consumer waste streams and Coveris’ own circular manufacturing process.

The product comes in hand and pre-stretched variants and is the thinnest recycled stretch films available in the market today. Besides being fully recyclable, they feature the same packaging and transportation efficiencies as those made with virgin materials.

The films are developed at Coveris’ extrusion facility and Film Science Lab in Winsford, England. This location has its own recycling facility, with post-industrial waste utilised as feedstock. Therefore, all waste from the Winsford plant becomes a recyclable product.

Additionally, this new release meets the upcoming U.K. Plastic Packaging Tax requirements. Set to take effect in April 2022, plastic packaging manufacturers are required to roll out products with a minimum of 30% recycled content. If not, these are subject to taxation of £200 per tonne.

Mike Richardson, Technical Director at Coveris Winsford said, “Supporting our vision of NO WASTE and wider industry sustainable goals, the new solution offsets the need for virgin plastics whilst maintaining full recyclability, as well as being fully compliant with UK Plastics Packaging Tax legislation. This will allow our customers to take advantage of the benefits of efficient palletised transportation using plastic tertiary packaging without compromising their sustainability and circular economy goals.”