Crate manufacturer for the German market: 35% recyclate in a 50 µm stretch hood

A crate manufacturer exporting to the German market wrapped its pallets in a 50 µm stretch hood, while German retail chains expected an ever higher share of post-consumer recyclate in transport packaging. NEX-HOOD PCR 50 µm in the “PCR HQ” formulation contains 35% post-consumer recyclate without making the film thicker and maintains its stretch performance in a demanding application.

01 Customer

A crate manufacturer from Poland, exporting to the German market with global distribution. It secures its pallets with a stretch hood.

02 Challenge

The customer wrapped its pallets in an exceptionally thin 50 µm stretch hood in the standard version. The nature of the product requires very high film stretch during hood application, so adding PCR at this thickness was technically difficult: most recyclate formulations on the market lose the required mechanical properties under these conditions.

At the same time, German retail chains were signalling growing expectations regarding the share of post-consumer material in transport packaging.

03 Solution

• “PCR HQ” formulation: a dedicated NEX-HOOD PCR 50 µm formulation.
• Recyclate: 35% post-consumer material at the same 50 µm thickness.
• Mechanical properties: enhanced for high-stretch applications.

04 Results

Before and after

Film	standard 50 µm stretch hood → NEX-HOOD PCR 50 µm with 35% PCR
Thickness	50 µm, without making the film thicker
Stretch performance	maintained in a demanding application
Market requirements	in line with the expectations of German retail chains and PPWR requirements

05 What this means for you

50 µm is a thin gauge for a stretch hood. Adding a third of recyclate to that without losing holding force is where most PCR projects stall. If your customers expect recyclate in transport packaging and you work with a thin hood, what matters is the formulation, not a thicker film.