22 May 2026

Global home appliance manufacturer: 35% PCR in 50-70 µm films without losing shrink performance

An international home appliance group had previously gone down from 80 to 50 µm film and wanted to add recyclate without making the film thicker, modifying its packing lines or compromising shrinkage. We selected the technology and shrink parameters so that 50-70 µm films contain 35% PCR, with no CAPEX on the customer’s side, and the roadmap aims for 50% PCR.

In brief

Customer: an international home appliance group (washing machines, refrigerators, cookers), Poland and Western Europe.
Problem: an ESG target of recyclate in all variants, with film already downgauged from 80 to 50 µm, without modifying the packing lines and without compromising shrinkage.
Solution: selection of technology and shrink parameters for 35% PCR at thicknesses of 50-70 µm, depending on the application and line type.
Result: 35% PCR at 50-70 µm, savings from the earlier downgauging retained, ESG and PPWR targets met without CAPEX and without line modifications.

35%PCR in the films

50-70 µmthickness depending on application

50 µmfrom 80 µm · earlier downgauging retained

50%PCR as the roadmap target

01 Customer

An international home appliance group producing washing machines, refrigerators and cookers, operating in Poland and Western Europe. On the packing line, refrigerators go into a shrink sleeve shrunk with a frame.

02 Challenge

The customer had previously gone down from 80 to 50 µm and had no intention of returning to thicker film. At the same time, it had an ESG target: recyclate in all variants, without modifying the packing lines and without compromising shrinkage. This is the hardest version of the task, because PCR and thin film both push mechanical properties in the same direction: down.

Why this is difficult

The sleeve shrinks onto a body with sharp cardboard and EPS edges. Recyclate lowers puncture resistance, and downgauging to 50 µm removes the margin. The formulation has to recover both properties at once, without changing the shrink temperature and time on the frame.

Home appliance packing line: a refrigerator in a shrink sleeve after frame shrinking. The film has to enclose the body with its EPS protection and cardboard, including from the top.

03 Solution

Technology and shrink parameters: selected to introduce 35% PCR at thicknesses of 50-70 µm.
Thickness by application: from 50 to 70 µm, depending on the application and line type.
Mechanical properties: the film matched to the customer’s parameters so that logistics and pack appearance do not suffer.
Roadmap: the next step aims for 50% PCR.

04 Results

Before and after
PCR content	35% at thicknesses of 50-70 µm; 50% on the roadmap
Film thickness	no return to thicker film, savings from the 80 → 50 µm downgauging retained
Packing line	no modifications and no CAPEX
ESG and PPWR targets	met

05 What this means for you

If you are told that recyclate requires thicker film or a line conversion, it means the formulation has not been calculated for your machine. Here the implementation went through without a single złoty of investment on the customer’s side.

NEX-SHRINKPE shrink film 20-250 µm

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