The most suitable types of BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) films for recycling are primarily dependent on their composition and surface treatments. Here is a detailed breakdown based on recent insights relevant for manufacturers, industrial recycling equipment buyers, and industry professionals:
- Plain BOPP Films:
- These are unprinted, uncoated, and non-metalized films.
- Plain BOPP films have the easiest recycling path as they are mono-material and free of ink, adhesives, or metal layers.
- They can be efficiently processed by integrated recycling machines that combine cutting, extrusion, and pelletizing in one step, producing consistent, high-quality pellets ready for reuse.
- The simplicity of plain BOPP films allows recycling equipment such as cutter compactors (e.g., Repro-Flex model) to process the material without requiring pre-cutting or additional crushing.
- This type of BOPP film retains its value well after multiple recycling cycles and offers ecological and economic benefits by minimizing waste and supporting sustainability goals.
- Printed and Metalized BOPP Films:
- These films include printing inks and/or a metallized (aluminum) layer, enhancing barrier properties and visual appeal.
- Recycling these films is more complex due to ink removal and managing the metallized layers.
- Specialized recycling machines (e.g., Repro-Flex Plus) feature multiple extruders, degassing zones, and filtration units designed to remove ink and moisture efficiently.
- These machines minimize degradation of the polymer, ensuring recycled pellets maintain uniform quality for reintegration into production lines.
- This category often includes films used for high-barrier packaging applications, requiring advanced processing to preserve material integrity.
- Ongoing industry developments, such as pilot programs in Japan, focus on film-to-film recycling technology to efficiently recycle printed BOPP back into new flexible packaging.
- Other Considerations for Recycling Suitability:
- Clean, dry BOPP films are always more suitable for recycling; contamination with food residue or other materials complicates operations.
- Mono-material BOPP films (unlaminated and uncoated) are faster and cheaper to recycle compared to multi-layer composites.
- Industrial recycling equipment must accommodate varying properties of BOPP films — strength, transparency, and stiffness — to optimize shredding, extrusion, and pelletizing.
- Some industry solutions offer customized machinery to handle specific types of BOPP waste streams effectively.
For companies like Rumtoo Machine, specializing in industrial recycling solutions, the choice of appropriate recycling technology according to the type of BOPP film is crucial. Rumtoo Machine’s expertise in designing machinery that integrates shredding, compacting, degassing, and pelletizing steps provides manufacturers and recyclers with the innovation needed to extract maximum value from both plain and complex BOPP films.
By using tailored equipment for each film type, Rumtoo Machine helps clients in the USA and Europe advance sustainable practices, improve operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impact in their recycling processes.
