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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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.
2026-04-18 · 7 min read · Polimex Tech
When a brand switches from shrink sleeve labels to stretch sleeve labels on an HDPE or PP container, the sustainability change is dramatic: 74% less CO₂ than shrink sleeves, 64% less CO₂ than ROSO roll-fed labels, and 38% less CO₂ than standard OPP roll-fed. These are lifecycle figures — they include material production, application energy, and end-of-life. The heat tunnel is the biggest single driver.
Shrink sleeve application requires a steam or hot-air tunnel running continuously during production. A medium-capacity steam tunnel consumes 40–120 kWh per hour of operation. Over a 250-day production year on a single line, that is 100,000–300,000 kWh of electricity. Stretch sleeves are applied at ambient temperature — zero tunnel energy, zero boiler maintenance, zero steam condensate handling.
LDPE film has a density of 0.92–0.97 g/cm³ — it floats in float-sink recycling separation. On an HDPE or PP container, the LDPE stretch sleeve is mono-material with the container: same polymer family, same recycling stream, no separation required. This is the cleanest recyclability story in the sleeve label market.
| Cost Factor | Shrink Sleeve | Stretch Sleeve |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate cost | Baseline | Lowest price point in sleeve materials |
| Heat tunnel CAPEX | €80,000–€300,000+ | None required |
| Tunnel energy OPEX | €15,000–€60,000/year | Zero |
| Pre-coloured film | Ink on all surfaces | Pre-coloured LDPE saves ink across full production run |
| Total label cost | Reference | ~50% lower |
LDPE stretch sleeves perform from −40°C to +60°C without any damage. This makes them the only sleeve label format suitable for frozen food and cold-chain dairy without any special grade specification. At −40°C, PETG and OPS shrink sleeves become brittle; LDPE stretch sleeves remain fully elastic and adhesion-stable.
Advanced LDPE formulations now achieve up to 55% elongation — enabling stretch sleeve application on bottles with contoured shapes that previously required shrink sleeves. For brands with complex container geometry, this opens stretch sleeves to applications that were previously unavailable at this cost and CO₂ point.
Stretch sleeve labels deliver 74% less CO₂ than shrink sleeves, 50% cost reduction, and LDPE mono-material recyclability. No heat tunnel needed. Polimex supplies LDPE stretch sleeve film from 1,000 kg MOQ, 4-week lead time. Contact: ops@polimexgroup.com