There are various types of plastic food packaging, one of which is made using plastic films, particularly polypropylene film. This material is very popular in the food industry and is suitable for packaging a wide variety of products, but it should not be confused with polyethylene film.
In general, polypropylene film is used to package food products in flowpacks, which involves wrapping the products in the packaging. Let’s see the characteristics of polypropylene film for food packaging and the differences with polyethylene.
What are plastic films?
Plastic films are some of the most widely used food packaging products because of the countless advantages they offer. They are films made of various compositions of plastic polymers, specially designed to ensure optimal performance in food packaging in terms of safety, flexibility and protection.
Plastic films are highly resistant and offer excellent isolation in order to provide a very functional barrier effect, and they come with a wide range of customization options. They are materials that make versatile and flexible food packaging in different shapes, sizes and structures.
Plastic films can also be combined with other materials like aluminum to produce more robust and resistant food packaging. There are also more sustainable alternatives with a lower environmental impact, such as films made of biodegradable polymers and bioplastics.
One of the main applications of plastic films is in flow pack packaging, a system that is particularly efficient in packaging food products like baked goods, cured meats, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables. In the flow pack method, plastic films adapt perfectly to the product and you can choose from different formats, such as stand-up pouches and pillow bags.
Polyethylene and polypropylene plastic films
Rolls of plastic film are mostly made of polyethylene or polypropylene, two materials that have different characteristics but are both used in flow pack machines for food packaging.
Polyethylene film for food packaging
Polyethylene films are a light and flexible type of packaging that is easy to seal and has excellent non-stick properties. They are also a highly resistant type of packaging that offers excellent performance, a low cost and a wide range of applications within the food industry.
They are rolls made of polyethylene (PE), a chemically stable plastic polymer offering excellent isolation and resistance to various chemical agents and water. It is a non-toxic material that is food-safe and its impermeability makes it ideal for packaging liquid and semi-liquid products.
Polypropylene film for food packaging
Polypropylene (PP) is a plastic polymer widely used to make plastic films for food packaging. Its main advantage is that it can be combined with other materials. This gives the films additional properties, such as enhancing its resistance, isolation or protection against external agents.
Polypropylene films, also known as laminates, are flexible and ensure optimal food preservation. Polypropylene film packaging provides a high barrier effect against sunlight, heat and air, preserving the quality of the product and its organoleptic properties (taste, aroma, flavor).
Volmar Packaging offers a wide range of polypropylene and polyethylene films for food packaging, with high-quality flexible films, laminates and COEX, as well as customized solutions tailored to each company’s needs.