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.
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Technical guides, regulatory analysis and procurement intelligence for label converters, brand owners and co-packers.
2026-03-28 · 9 min read · Polimex Technical Team
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) replaces the older Directive and introduces legally binding recyclability and recycled content targets with a hard timeline. For shrink sleeve labels, the critical provisions kick in progressively from 2030 — but qualifying your supply chain needs to start in 2026 or earlier, because film specification changes require tooling, qualification runs and converter re-certification that take 12–24 months.
The PPWR's core demand for shrink sleeves is simple to state but complex to execute: the label must not prevent the recyclability of the substrate it is applied to. In practice, this means any sleeve that causes a PET bottle to fail the European RecyClass or EPBP recyclability assessment must be phased out.
| Film Type | PPWR Status | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Standard PETG (no wash-off) | At risk — PETG floats in alkaline wash, can contaminate PET flake | Switch to wash-off PETG or low-density floatable grade |
| Wash-off PETG (NaOH-releasable ink) | Compliant — passes EPBP hot-wash protocol | Validate with your recycler — obtain EPBP letter |
| OPS (density 1.05 g/cm³) | Borderline — may sink in float-sink separation | Test against RecyClass protocol; use low-density OPS |
| Polyolefin / PO shrink sleeve | Fully compliant — floats in float-sink, low density | No action required; preferred for PE/PP containers |
| R-PETG (recycled content PETG) | Compliant + adds recycled content credit | Request CoA with recycled % from supplier |
| PLA (bio shrink) | Compliant for compostable streams; not for mechanical recycling | Match to compostable packaging only |
A wash-off label is a shrink sleeve printed with inks and adhesives designed to release cleanly in the 80°C NaOH hot-wash step used by PET bottle recyclers. The film — typically PETG — remains structurally intact during shrink application; the wash-off properties only activate during recycling. For brand owners who want to keep PETG (the performance benchmark for complex container shapes), this is the migration path that preserves both recyclability compliance and graphic performance.
Beyond recyclability, PPWR mandates minimum recycled content by weight in plastic packaging. For flexible film, the targets are 10% by 2030 and 25% by 2040. R-PETG — made from post-consumer PET bottle flake — already meets the 2030 target. Specifying R-PETG now locks in compliance and allows marketing claims around circular content.
PPWR compliance for shrink sleeves requires wash-off or low-density film grades by 2030. Procurement teams should qualify new specifications in 2026. Polimex supplies EPBP-tested wash-off PETG, R-PETG and PO shrink sleeve films. Contact: ops@polimexgroup.com