America’s shrink and stretch wrap market is worth a whopping $14.5 billion in 2024. That number is expected to exceed $22 billion within the next decade.
Shrink wrap and stretch wrap, also known as shrink film and stretch film, have also become very popular packing products among companies. But even still, people sometimes confuse one for the other and think they’re both right for the same jobs.
Examining the shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap debate in more detail can help you decide which is the better option for your company. You might also find that there is a place for both shrink and stretch wrap within your company’s manufacturing process.
Let’s take a closer look at the shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap debate to see what sets these packing products apart.
Material Composition and Properties
At first glance, it’s easy to see why people refer to shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap interchangeably. They have similar appearances, so it isn’t hard to confuse one for the other.
But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover that shrink wrap and stretch wrap have different compositions and properties. Get the inside scoop below.
Shrink Wrap Composition and Properties
There are two main types of shrink wrap. One is made of polyolefin, while the other is made of polyethylene.
Polyolefin shrink wrap has earned a reputation for providing:
- Great clarity
- Little to no odors
- Excellent durability
This type of shrink wrap can also have things printed on it, giving it an advantage over polyethylene shrink wrap.
Polyethylene shrink wrap, on the other hand, doesn’t provide the clarity polyolefin shrink wrap does. However, it does offer:
- More durability
- Improved shrinking ability
- Advanced protection
Either way, polyolefin and polyethylene shrink wrap contain plastic that will shrink around the outside of consumer products when heat is applied with a machine like a bar sealer. It’s usually the preferred option for companies specializing in producing retail products that will appear on store shelves with plastic still on them.
Stretch Wrap Composition and Properties
While shrink wrap is made of polyolefin and polyethylene, stretch wrap is almost always made of polyethylene alone. It’s also different from shrink wrap in that it’s thinner and stretches several times its original size.
Companies can buy a few different types of stretch wraps to pack products. Hand stretch wrap, for example, allows companies to stretch plastic around products manually, while machine stretch film works with special stretch wrap machines.
You can also break down machine stretch wrap further into the following categories:
- Pre-stretched film: Stretch wrap that is pre-stretched before being wrapped around products
- Blown stretch film: Stretch wrap used during the blown extrusion process
- Case stretch film: Stretch wrap used during the cast extrusion process
Applications and Use Cases
Due to the differences in the material compositions and properties of shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap, these two forms of plastic wrap also have differences when it comes to how they’re used. Here are some ways each option is used for packing products.
Shrink Wrap: Specific Uses and Advantages
Shrink wrap is typically used to wrap consumer products instead of large pallets of products. You’ll find many everyday items wrapped in shrink wrap when you’re shopping at a store, including:
- Books
- Toys
- Fresh produce
- Water bottles
Shrink wrap is placed over these products before heat is added to make it shrink and form a tight seal. This makes shrink wrap the ideal solution for products people want to look at before buying them in stores.
Stretch Wrap: Specific Applications and Benefits
Shrink wrap is an amazing choice for companies looking to wrap retail items, but it isn’t the best option for those companies that need to wrap up multiple boxes of items for shipping purposes. In this case, you’ll want to use stretch wrap instead.
Stretch wrap can stretch around a pallet of boxes containing shrink-wrapped products. As stretch wrap goes around this pallet, it’ll squeeze all these boxes tight and ensure they don’t move anywhere en route to their final destination.
Strength, Durability, and Performance
Strength, durability, and performance are words we would use to describe both shrink wrap and stretch wrap. However, they each deliver these three qualities differently within the context of product packing. Check out what we mean so you can select the right type of wrap based on your needs.
Comparison of Strength and Durability
If you were to hold a piece of shrink wrap in one hand and a piece of stretch wrap in the other, the thicker shrink wrap might feel stronger and more durable. It’ll provide better protection to individually packed items, covering them completely while allowing you to see through them.
However, shrink wrap wouldn’t work as well as it does under normal circumstances if you were to use it to wrap a large pallet of boxes. Outside of the fact that you would struggle to wrap these boxes with shrink wrap because of their size, it might not prevent boxes from slipping and sliding if even a small tear or hole was made in them. It could begin to rip open before long.
Stretch wrap, meanwhile, wouldn’t work well if you were to use it to pack certain consumer items because of how thin it is and because it isn’t easy to see through. But when you use it to wrap a pallet of boxes, this is where stretch wrap excels. It can hold these boxes tight, and even if it happens to get a small tear or hole in it, it’ll hold firm and prevent the boxes from going anywhere.
Long-Term Performance Assessment
The beautiful thing about both shrink wrap and stretch wrap is that they’re built for the long haul. You can keep products packed in shrink wrap for years and not have to worry about them sustaining damage.
The same is true for stretch wrap. If you keep a pallet of boxes in stretch wrap, it should stop these boxes from going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
Cost Analysis and Considerations
Is cost a major concern when choosing sides in the shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap battle? Fortunately, each option is more cost-effective than the alternatives.
Comparative Cost Analysis
Since stretch wrap is thinner than shrink wrap, it’s the more affordable option. This explains why many companies rely on stretch wrap when shipping pallets of boxes and other products.
Shrink wrap is pricier than stretch wrap, but it can still cut costs for companies using other packing materials. Neither of these options should break the bank.
Factors Influencing Cost Effectiveness
The cost-effectiveness of shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap ultimately comes down to whether or not you need to buy equipment to use one or the other. You may, for instance, need to invest in a special stretch wrapping machine if you plan to wrap dozens of pallets daily.
You may also need to invest in heavy-duty bar sealers to use shrink wrap on products — another factor that can increase the price of this packing material.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
More than 350 million tons of plastic waste are generated worldwide each year. For this reason, consider the environmental impact of using shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap.
Biodegradability, Recyclability, Impact
The good news is that shrink wrap and stretch wrap are recyclable. The bad news is that many companies don’t realize this and throw out these packing materials with their regular trash.
No matter which one your company uses, recycle shrink and stretch wrap to stop it from landing in landfills where it can sit for decades.
Sustainability Considerations
One thing worth mentioning when it comes to sustainability is that your company will likely need to use more stretch wrap than shrink wrap every year. Stretch wrap is thinner than shrink wrap, so more is used for packing in most cases, affecting its overall sustainability.
Industry Adoption and Preference
Some industries use shrink wrap more often than not for packing and shipping, while others prefer stretch wrap. Get help deciding which side of the fence your company should fall on by learning about which industries have adopted each option.
Favored Industries and Reasons for Shrink Wrap
Industries that favor shrink wrap over stretch wrap are:
- Food and beverage
- Pharmaceutical
- Electronics
They favor shrink wrap because of the protection it provides to consumer products that will show up on store shelves.
Industries Favoring Stretch Wrap and Their Reasons
Industries that favor stretch wrap over shrink wrap are:
- Agriculture
- Shipping and logistics
- Construction
These industries like stretch wrap because it can adequately protect pallets filled with boxes.
Let Us Help You Settle the Shrink Wrap vs. Stretch Wrap Debate
At TDI Packsys, we can help you figure out where you fall in the shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap debate by talking to you about the equipment you’ll need to use each option. We can provide your company with Horizontal Flow Wrapping systems and other useful types of equipment. Contact us for more information.
