Shrink film

Sustainable shrink (wrap) film

From Flanders, Segers & Balcaen is one of the most important players in the Western European market of barrier films and flexible packaging for frozen food, fresh food, e-commerce and technical film applications for niche markets. With 60 years of experience, Segers & Balcaen has amassed extensive know-how that multinationals such as Coca Cola, DHL, AB Inbev and Refresco can call upon. In this way the technical films that are made at our plants in Liedekerke and Diest go around the world.

With the project #futureofplastics, Segers & Balcaen focuses on a sustainable economy and a circular approach. The reduction of foil thickness, reuse of internal plastic waste and maximum reduction of our own waste support our pursuit of green solutions. Our investments in daily innovations ensure strong ecological products. Learn more about our approach.

In order to understand the strength and ecological power of plastics, we need to recognize the impact of our throwaway society. Investing in research on ways in which we can reuse used plastic is a first step towards a sustainable economy. We gladly share our gained knowledge.

Because of our waste management problems globally, 5 to 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans every year. Recalculated that’s 1,5 to 4% of our global plastics production. That’s huge! Gladly the many campaigns have resulted in greater socially supported ecological awareness in the EU where we are responsible for 3% of this pollution. It is estimated that plastics production and the incineration of plastic waste give rise globally to approximately 400 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Together we can curb these CO2 emissions by using more recycled plastics. At Segers & Balcaen we have the knowledge and the tools to make shrink (wrap) film out of 100% regranulate using post-industrial and/or post-consumption material. Let’s elaborate on one of our contributions to a greener economy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING

POST PRODUCTION MATERIAL:

Film coming from its own or a third party’s production site, re-injected in the own production.

POST CONSUMPTION MATERIAL:

Film sold to an industrial client and has become obsolete, or
Film used by the end consumer and has been recuperated by a recycling plant, that turned it into granulates again.

High risk of contamination of the PE regranulate with other granulate such as PA, which has a different melting index. Such contamination can cause breaking or gels in the film.
Risk of odor
Risk of impact on transparency
Risk of impact on mechanical properties

The challenges for post-consumption waste are somewhat higher than for post-industrial waste. At Segers & Balcaen we believe in the power of circular economy and the power of using recycled materials.

Segers & Balcaen is pleased to confirm its capability of producing shrink film with up to 100% recycled material in a reliable and industrial way. Our sustainable shrink film – with up to 100% recycled material – has the same mechanical properties (strength, dart drop, elongation, puncture resistance) as film made from primary ingredients! Available both printed and unprinted, it can be applied for a wide variety of products and markets (beverage cans and bottles; canned food and cartons). The film is fit for high-speed packaging methods and can be utilized as a single or twin lane, which helps manufacturers maximize their cost-effectiveness and reduction of energy.

Demands for recycled plastics today accounts for only 6% of plastics demand in Europe. The plastic problem in Europe is therefore in first instance a waste management problem. That is why we are fully committed to our contribution to a circular economy by specializing in sustainable shrink (wrap) film through:

Our recent investment in a 5 layer extrusion machine with: outside skin layers and middle layer – holding up to 90% of the material – especially designed for the use of recycled granulate.
The acquisition of a lab extruder in order to perform entrance control on the quality of external regranulate.
Our close collaboration with the Flemish Government with respect to the circular economy. As a result, the Flemish Government has approved and subsidizes the Segers & Balcaen transformation project (recycling + bio (compostable) granulate) that started in August 2017.
Our wide experience in producing regranulate film:
- For over 5 years, Segers & Balcaen has already been producing regranulated film on an industrial basis for its bag department (85 Mill. postal bags per year).
- Since 2017, Segers & Balcaen is also making shrink film with regranulate, with nothing but compliments relating to the quality of the regranulate (post-consumer and post-industrial).

CONCLUSION:

Segers & Balcaen has the adapted machinery and the manufacturing experience to produce sustainable shrink film with regranulate on a reliable, industrial basis. Challenge us with your packaging questions. We are happy to present our ecological & technical solutions. Together we ensure a greener future.