POLIFILM now also offers RecyClass certified carrier films
Ideal for protective film applications
The PE and PP film specialist POLIFILM Performance Films GmbH is expanding its range of RecyClass certified solutions. Amongst the more than 40 certified film products offered by the company, which also includes solutions for labels, laminating and packaging films, are selected solutions from the carrier film segment. These are typically coated by the customer and used for surface protection purposes.
Films with Recycled Content in Surface Protection – Market-ready Applications
The fact that the use of recycled materials in carrier films is now no longer limited to specific application areas is demonstrated by the examples from POLIFILM Performance Films’ sister company, POLIFILM PROTECTION GmbH. They are able to successfully process the RecyClass certified carrier films from POLIFILM Performance Films into protective films for a wide variety of surface materials. In addition to films with up to 60% recycled content from post-consumer waste (PCR) for the protection of plastic applications, such as PVC cable ducts, other solutions with both pre- and post-consumer recyclates are available for the protection of metal surfaces.
These include applications for steel, where films coated with natural rubber adhesives containing 20% pre-consumer recyclate are used, as well as for painted sheets, which can be protected using films with up to 30% PCR. Even for the technically demanding laser cutting process, which requires high-performance protective films, POLIFILM offers a film variant with up to 20% PCR, which is equal in both quality and performance to its classic versions.
The role of Pre- and Post-Consumer Recycled Content
The reason why POLIFILM Performance Films decided to certify films with pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content is explained by Sales Director Alexander Schulte-Derne ‘We produce our films for customers worldwide. The use of pre- and post-consumer recycled material enables us to respond to country specific preferences and regulations. For example, in the UK market, films with pre-consumer recyclate are particularly valued whereas in countries like Spain or the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the demand for films with PCR is stronger.’
The use of pre- and post-consumer recycled material enables us to respond to country specific preferences and regulations.
Alexander Schulte-DerneSales Director POLIFILM Performance Films
Choosing RecyClass as an auditing scheme
Transparency [..] is crucial for the contribution of recyclates to the success of a circular-driven plastics economy.
Having films with both types of recyclate as certified solutions in the portfolio is, according to Schulte-Derne, a real advantage. ‘Processing recyclates from trusted sources and having this validated through the application of an industry-recognized and independent certification scheme is more important than ever today. It supports customers in their own communication, as well as in documentation and reporting.’
Maintaining transparency along the value chain is crucial for the contribution of recyclates to the success of a circular-driven plastics economy. RecyClass provides exactly that – an auditing scheme in accordance with EN 15343:2007, enabling the identification of waste origin and ensuring seamless traceability of recyclates along the value chain.
