{"id":2337,"date":"2026-05-20T08:33:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T08:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manitox.eu\/?p=2337"},"modified":"2026-10-15T12:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:24:46","slug":"ujrahasznositott-ldpe-folia-mikor-jo-valasztas-es-mikor-nem-ajanlott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manitox.eu\/en\/ujrahasznositott-ldpe-folia-mikor-jo-valasztas-es-mikor-nem-ajanlott\/","title":{"rendered":"Recycled LDPE film: when is it a good choice, and when is it not recommended?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Find out when recycled LDPE film can be used safely, what industrial and packaging applications it is recommended for, and when it is best to opt for virgin material.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Recycled LDPE film: when is it a good choice, and when is it not recommended?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Industrial and packaging companies are increasingly finding it necessary to replace films previously made from top-grade, virgin raw materials with films made partly or entirely from recycled LDPE.<\/p>

There may be several reasons for this. Some companies are looking for a more cost-effective solution, whilst others wish to use packaging containing recycled materials because of their sustainability goals, ESG requirements or the environmental standards set by their partners.<\/p>

Recycled LDPE film can indeed be a good choice in many cases. However, it is important to recognise that the same raw material does not work for every product or in every area of application. A construction site cover, a bin bag, film used on an automatic packaging machine, or the packaging of an odour-sensitive product may all have completely different technical requirements.<\/p>

In this article, we explain when it is advisable to choose recycled LDPE film, when a separate assessment is required, and in which cases it may be a better decision to use first-class, virgin raw materials. The article is based on a technical interview conducted with the client.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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What is LDPE film?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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LDPE is the English term for Low-Density Polyethylene<\/strong> An abbreviation for low-density polyethylene. It is one of the most commonly used plastic raw materials in the manufacture of plastic film.<\/p>

LDPE film is flexible and easy to process, and can be manufactured in a variety of thicknesses and sizes; it is therefore widely used in the industrial, packaging, construction, agricultural and commercial sectors.<\/p>

It can be made from LDPE, for example:<\/p>

  • flat film,<\/li>
  • hose or half-hose,<\/li>
  • bin bag,<\/li>
  • industrial sack,<\/li>
  • pallet cap,<\/li>
  • shrink wrap,<\/li>
  • plastic sheeting,<\/li>
  • construction film,<\/li>
  • air-cushioned film,<\/li>
  • agricultural film,<\/li>
  • film used in various automatic packaging machines.<\/li><\/ul>

    One of the major advantages of LDPE film is that it can be tailored to the intended use. A construction film used outdoors requires different properties to those of an indoor packaging film or an industrial bag.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    What does \u2018recycled LDPE film\u2019 mean?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We refer to recycled LDPE film when the film is manufactured using plastic raw materials that have been partially or entirely reprocessed, known as regranulate<\/strong> are used.<\/p>

    Regranulate is a plastic raw material that was previously generated as waste or as a by-product of manufacturing, and which, following sorting, cleaning, grinding, melting and pelletising, has been transformed back into a raw material suitable for further processing.<\/p>

    The proportion of recycled raw materials may vary depending on the product and its intended use. Certain products may be made from up to 100% recycled raw materials, whilst in other cases a combination of virgin and recycled raw materials may be the better option.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    PCR and PIR raw materials: what\u2019s the difference?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    When it comes to recycled films, there are two main types of raw material: PCR<\/strong> and PIR<\/strong>.<\/p>

    PCR reagents<\/h4>

    PCR is the Post-consumer recycled<\/strong> Abbreviation. This refers to a recycled raw material made from plastic waste that has been collected after consumer use.<\/p>

    Examples of this might include packaging materials, cling film or other plastic waste collected after use.<\/p>

    The advantage of PCR raw material is that genuine consumer waste is returned to the circular economy. At the same time, its quality depends heavily on how clean, well-sorted and properly processed the original waste was.<\/p>

    The following may occur with the PCR sample:<\/p>

    • greater variation in quality,<\/li>
    • a milder or stronger smell,<\/li>
    • greater risk of foreign matter,<\/li>
    • processing that requires greater attention.<\/li><\/ul>

      This does not mean that the PCR raw material is poor. Rather, it means that it must be used with the right product and by a manufacturer with the appropriate experience.<\/p>

      PIR raw material<\/h4>

      PIR is the Post-Industrial Recycled<\/strong> Abbreviation. This refers to recycled raw materials derived from industrial manufacturing processes.<\/p>

      PIR typically comes from a cleaner and more controllable source than PCR, which is made from mixed consumer waste. For this reason, it may in many cases be more suitable for packaging applications where a cleaner appearance, more consistent quality or a lower risk of odour are more important.<\/p>

      For example, when packaging textiles, mattresses or higher-end industrial products, it is often better to consider PIR as the raw material rather than lower-quality PCR.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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      When is recycled LDPE film a good choice?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Recycled LDPE film is a good choice if the product\u2019s function, the environment in which it will be used and the required technical properties allow for the use of recycled raw materials.<\/p>

      The most important question is always this:<\/p>

      What do you need to know about foil in practice?<\/strong><\/p>

      What matters is not simply whether the film is made from recycled or virgin raw materials, but whether it performs as required for its intended purpose.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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      For construction films<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Construction films may represent one of the best applications for recycled LDPE.<\/p>

      Examples of such films include:<\/p>

      • for covering,<\/li>
      • for layer selection,<\/li>
      • built into the floor,<\/li>
      • for temporary protection,<\/li>
      • to protect against condensation,<\/li>
      • for the protection of building materials.<\/li><\/ul>

        With these products, in many cases it is not optical perfection or odourlessness that is the most important factor, but rather that the film is of the correct thickness, sufficiently durable and functionally reliable.<\/p>

        For this reason, in the case of construction films, recycled raw materials can often be a good, cost-effective and more sustainable alternative.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        For bin liners<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Rubbish bags are also a typical application for recycled LDPE.<\/p>

        The primary function of a bin bag is to store and transport waste. In most cases, it is not necessary to use virgin, first-grade raw materials, provided that the recycled film has the appropriate tensile strength, elongation and thickness.<\/p>

        It is important, however, that the bin bag does not give off an unpleasantly strong odour, particularly if it is intended for use in offices, institutions or indoors.<\/p>

        That is why it is also important to choose the right material for bin liners. A different standard of quality may be acceptable for an outdoor or industrial waste collection bag than for one used in an office environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        For industrial sacks<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Recycled LDPE film can also be a good choice for industrial bags.<\/p>

        Examples of bags that can be used include:<\/p>

        • for the collection of production waste,<\/li>
        • for the packaging of industrial components,<\/li>
        • in-house logistics,<\/li>
        • for warehouse processes,<\/li>
        • for the protection of semi-finished or finished products.<\/li><\/ul>

          When it comes to industrial sacks, the most important factors are generally load-bearing capacity, size, thickness and the sack\u2019s ability to perform reliably in the specific operating environment.<\/p>

          With the right regranulate and production settings, recycled LDPE can be suitable for many such applications.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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          For pallet lids<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          The purpose of pallet covers is generally to protect palletised goods from dust, moisture, rain or other external factors.<\/p>

          In many cases, recycled raw materials are a particularly good choice for these products, as the film primarily serves a protective function and does not necessarily come into contact with sensitive products.<\/p>

          In the case of pallet caps, various additives may also be used, such as:<\/p>

          • UV stabiliser,<\/li>
          • anti-static additive,<\/li>
          • anti-corrosion additive.<\/li><\/ul>

            This ensures that the film not only provides basic protection, but is also tailored to the specific industrial application.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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            For flat films and covering films<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            Recycled LDPE is often suitable for use in flat films and covering films, particularly where the film is intended to provide temporary protection for products or surfaces.<\/p>

            An example of such a function might be:<\/p>

            • protection against dust,<\/li>
            • protection against moisture,<\/li>
            • surface covering,<\/li>
            • temporary packaging,<\/li>
            • warehouse security.<\/li><\/ul>

              When selecting raw materials for these products, it is necessary to consider the environment in which the film will be used, how long it needs to fulfil its function, and what mechanical stresses it will be subjected to.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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              When does the use of recycled film require a separate assessment?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              There are certain areas of application where the use of recycled LDPE film cannot be ruled out, but it certainly requires a more careful selection of raw materials, design and testing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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              Shrink wrap<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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              Shrink film is a particularly sensitive product because it shrinks when exposed to heat, whilst still having to retain its packaging function.<\/p>

              If the recycled raw material contains too many foreign substances or impurities of an unsuitable particle size, the film may develop holes, become weakened or fail to provide adequate protection during the shrinking process.<\/p>

              This is why it is particularly important in the case of shrink film:<\/p>

              • the pure raw material,<\/li>
              • the selection of the appropriate regranulate,<\/li>
              • precise production settings,<\/li>
              • testing,<\/li>
              • a thorough understanding of the product\u2019s functionality.<\/li><\/ul>

                In some cases, recycled raw materials may be suitable; in others, however, using virgin or partially virgin raw materials may be the safer option.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                For films used in automatic packaging machines<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                For films used in automatic packaging machines, dimensional stability, thickness, weldability and machine runnability are critical.<\/p>

                Film of this kind is not merely \u201cpackaging material\u201d, but an integral part of the manufacturing process. If it does not run properly on the machine, it can cause machine downtime, rejects, packaging faults and a loss of output.<\/p>

                It is therefore important for film intended for use in vending machines that:<\/p>

                • knowledge of the specific machine type,<\/li>
                • the exact size,<\/li>
                • the correct thickness,<\/li>
                • the consistent quality of raw materials,<\/li>
                • pilot production,<\/li>
                • consultation between the manufacturer and the user.<\/li><\/ul>

                  Recycled film may also be an option here, but only if its function and suitability for mechanical processing allow it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                  For odour-sensitive products<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                  One of the most common concerns about recycled plastic film is the smell.<\/p>

                  This fear is not entirely unfounded. Certain PCR raw materials can indeed have a distinctive odour, particularly if the source waste has not been properly sorted or cleaned.<\/p>

                  However, this does not mean that all recycled plastic film smells.<\/p>

                  The risk of odours can be reduced:<\/p>

                  • using higher-quality regranulate,<\/li>
                  • Using PIR as a raw material,<\/li>
                  • by blending the right ingredients,<\/li>
                  • with odour-neutralising additives,<\/li>
                  • specifying the intended use in detail.<\/li><\/ul>

                    If, for example, the film is used to wrap mattresses, textiles or other odour-sensitive products, it is particularly important that the manufacturer does not automatically opt for the cheapest recycled raw material, but instead recommends a solution suited to the intended use.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                    For thin films<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                    It is a common misconception that only thick, coarse films can be produced from recycled raw materials.<\/p>

                    The reality is more nuanced than that. Thinner films can also be produced from recycled raw materials, but this requires higher-quality regranulate, more stable production settings and greater technical expertise.<\/p>

                    The thinner the film, the lower the tolerance. Even a minor impurity or variation in quality can cause a bigger problem than with a thicker product.<\/p>

                    For this reason, individual inspection and testing are always required for thin films.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                    When is recycled LDPE film not recommended?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                    Although recycled LDPE is suitable for use in many areas, there are situations where it is not the best choice.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                    For direct food packaging\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                    In the case of packaging that comes into direct contact with food, the use of recycled plastic is strictly regulated and, in many cases, not permitted.<\/p>

                    In this field, it is not enough for the film to appear technically suitable. It must also comply with food safety and regulatory requirements.<\/p>

                    For this reason, direct food packaging generally requires specifically authorised, audited raw materials that are suitable for this purpose.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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                    In the case of packaging that is largely odourless<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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                    If the packaged product readily absorbs odours from its surroundings, the use of recycled raw materials must be handled with great care.<\/p>

                    Examples of this might include:<\/p>