Globe Guard Oxo-Biodegradable Stretch Film Is Ideal for Bundling

by: Dennis Salazar

24 May

Our new oxo-biodegradable film will of course degrade in almost any disposal scenario but it is also recyclable. That may not sound like a major positive point but the fact is that many bio plastics being sold today include additives that make the films unable to be recycled. If you believe, as we do, that the best disposal solution is recycling and considering the wide variety of waste handling programs in different parts of the country, the more flexibility and disposal options you have the better.

Stretch Film Is an Economical Way to Unitize Products

We have been asked by concerned customers, why we wrap our eco friendly corrugated shipping boxes in “plastic” when we ship them out. Hand bundling can be laborious but we feel the benefits outweigh the effort and are always eager to explain what we do and why we do it to anyone who asks. Essentially we wrap our bundles of boxes for three reasons.

For shipping costs reduction – by combining two lighter products into one larger package being shipped, a cost reduction is often possible. In addition it makes it less likely that smaller packages will get lost in the process.
To unitize – Boxes at a corrugated plant are typically unitized into 25 count bundles and they are held together by one, thin, ¼ strap. The strap is typically applied loosely to avoid damaging the boxes so it does not do a great job of holding the 25 boxes together during shipment. Stretch film does an excellent job of holding the bundle together minimizing product loss during shipment.
To protect – we are very proud of the way our 100% PCW corrugated shipping boxes look and we want them to look good for you when you use them to ship out your products. Wrapping the bundle in stretch film minimizes scuffing and damage, especially from moisture and dirt. No one likes wet shipping boxes.

Oxo-Biodegradable Stretch Film – More Upside, Less Downside

I know for some green minded people there is NO acceptable use for plastic products in any form or for any application. We understand that position but at the same time we also have to acknowledge that plastics bring some unique capabilities and properties to some challenging packaging applications.

Corrugated may be the greenest packaging alternative of all because it degrades so easily, under almost any circumstances. The key is to not have that process begin too soon, such as while it is shipping from our warehouse to your receiving dock. Being able to provide you with a plastic stretch film that is recyclable AND biodegradable is a major breakthrough that helps us to better serve our customers with a product that is consistent with our mission and goals.

Please read the previous ISP post introducing our biodegradable stretch film and check it out on our Globe Guard green packaging store.

Please let us know if you have any questions.