Coveris, a leading sustainable packaging company has launched a range of lightweight, next generation stretch films containing a minimum 30% recycled content to reduce reliance on virgin plastics and meet forthcoming UK Plastic Packaging Tax requirements.
Offering both hand and pre-stretch solutions, the new films are the thinnest recycled stretch films currently available. Made from a blend of recycled polythene, recovered from post-consumer waste streams and Coveris’ own circular manufacturing process, the low-gauge, high-performance films deliver the same packing and transportation efficiencies as virgin materials, as well as maintaining full recyclability.
With the UK Plastics Packaging Tax set to come into force in April 2022, all plastic packaging, including tertiary packaging like stretch wrap, will require a minimum of 30% recycled content, which will otherwise be subject to taxation of £200 per tonne.
Developed at Coveris’ state-of-the-art extrusion facility and Film Science Lab in Winsford, the films are the latest in a recent line of recycled product innovations that also support the businesses’ target of zero net waste. Utilising Coveris’ own post-industrial waste as feedstock via its recycling facility and independent reprocessing status, all waste now leaves the Winsford site as a recyclable product.
Commenting on the launch, 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.”