Shrink sleeves · stretch labels · flexible packaging films · laminates — engineered for brand owners, converters and co-packers who cannot afford to compromise on consistency.
Sleeve label films · flexible packaging rollstock · laminates · compostable structures. Trial roll to full container.
| Material | Thickness mic / mil | Width mm / in | Length/roll m | Shrink / Stretch | Core mm / in | Primary Application | Food Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETG | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve labels | Yes | |
| OPS | 35–55 / 1.4–2.2 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve, wrap-around | Yes | |
| PET | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Shrink sleeve label, packaging, lamination | Yes | |
| LDPE | 30–50 / 1.2–2.0 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Stretch sleeve labels | Yes | |
| PLA | 30–60 / 1.2–2.4 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Bio shrink sleeve, compostable packaging | Yes | |
| PO | 40–50 / 1.6–2.0 | 250–1300 / 10–51″ | 6–10,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | Polyolefin shrink sleeve, stretch labels | Yes | |
| PP | 15–80 / 0.6–3.2 | 300–1500 / 12–59″ | 3–8,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | BOPP flow wrap · CPP sealant · PPWR laminates | Yes | |
| PA | 70–200 / 2.8–7.9 | 200–1200 / 8–47″ | 1–5,000 | 76 / 152 (3″ / 6″) | PA/PE vacuum pouches · meat · cook-in · thermoforming | Yes |
* Custom thickness, width and core available on request. PP = BOPP/CPP grades. PA = PA/PE coextrusion. Full flexible packaging range including EVOH, MDO-PE, PBAT/PLA — see Materials hub.
Proforma Invoice within 24 hours · No obligation · Trial rolls available
polimexgroup.com/quote
Reference: RFQ-—
A confirmation with your enquiry summary has been sent to your email.
We'll send your Pro-Forma Invoice within 24 hours.
We don't just supply film. We engineer material solutions that perform consistently at production speed, across every order, every market.
Technical guides, regulatory analysis and procurement intelligence for label converters, brand owners and co-packers.
2026-04-22 · 6 min read · Polimex Tech
Six near-infrared (NIR) sorting equipment manufacturers. One clear result: polyolefin (PO) shrink sleeve labels achieved an average detection rate of 92%. Standard PETG sleeves: 40%. That 52-percentage-point gap is the difference between a label that is sorted correctly in a recycling facility — and one that contaminates the PET bottle flake stream.
After shredding, recyclers float the milled bottle material in water. PET (density >1.0 g/cm³) sinks. The intention is that label material — with lower density — floats and is skimmed off. PETG at 1.27 g/cm³ sinks along with the PET bottle, creating contamination in the PET flake. Polimex PO shrink sleeve film at 0.91 g/cm³ floats decisively — reliably separated at this step.
A key finding: clear PET bottles can be detected by NIR sorting equipment even when covered with a full-body PO-based shrink sleeve. The NIR signal passes through the PO film and reads the PET below. The label is identified as separate polymer — and sorted accordingly. This removes the most common objection to full-body sleeve labels in recycling: "the label hides the bottle."
Under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), packaging components that impede recyclability of the container are non-compliant from 2030. Standard PETG sleeves — without wash-off inks and EPBP hot-caustic wash testing — do not pass. PO floatable shrink sleeve film passes by material design: no additional certification, no wash-off ink specification, no EPBP test fee.
| Criterion | PO Floatable | Standard PETG | cPET (wash-off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.91 g/cm³ ✓ floats | 1.27 g/cm³ ✗ sinks | 1.27 g/cm³ ✗ sinks |
| NIR detection | 92% ✓ | 40% ✗ | High (wash-off) |
| Float-sink | Passes ✓ | Fails ✗ | Fails (sinks) ✗ |
| PPWR | Compliant ✓ | Non-compliant ✗ | Compliant (EPBP) ✓ |
| Extra certification | None needed ✓ | EPBP wash test required | EPBP required |
Choose PO when your container is HDPE, PP, LDPE, or LLDPE — the sleeve is compatible with the container's recycling stream, and the float-sink step handles separation cleanly. Choose cPET (wash-off PETG) when your container is PET and you need the sleeve to be recyclable with the PET bottle flake — the NaOH wash removes the ink and separates the label in the hot-wash step.
PO shrink sleeve film achieves 92% NIR detection vs 40% for standard PETG — the strongest recyclability case in the shrink sleeve market. Polimex supplies PO floatable shrink sleeve film from trial roll. Request a sample: ops@polimexgroup.com