CPP Packaging Film

What is CPP?

CPP stands for Cast Polypropylene. Unlike BOPP which is stretched in two directions during manufacturing, CPP is produced by casting molten polypropylene onto a chill roll without any stretching or orientation.

This casting process creates a fundamentally different film. Where BOPP’s biaxial stretching aligns the polymer chains to create stiffness and clarity, CPP remains softer and more flexible with better tear and puncture resistance. It also seals at lower temperatures - CPP is inherently heat-sealable without needing additional coatings.

The trade-off is optical performance and rigidity. BOPP wins on clarity, gloss, and crispness. But for applications where flexibility, tear resistance, or low-temperature sealing matter more, CPP is often the better choice.

CPP vs BOPP

Both are polypropylene, both are fully recyclable in PP streams, but they behave quite differently:

	CPP	BOPP
Feel	Soft, flexible	Stiff, crisp
Tear resistance	Superior	Moderate
Puncture resistance	Superior	Moderate
Clarity	Good	Excellent
Seal temperature	100-135°C	120-140°C
Yield (area per kg)	Higher	Lower
Printability	Good	Excellent
Barrier (moisture)	Good	Good
Barrier (oxygen)	Poor	Moderate

The higher yield is worth noting - CPP’s lower density means you get more film area per kilogram, which can make a difference on cost over large volumes.

CPP Types

General Purpose CPP

Standard CPP film with good clarity, flexibility, and heat sealability. Seals reliably across a range of temperatures making it forgiving on packaging equipment. Used for bags, pouches, and as a sealant layer in laminates.

Low-Temperature Seal CPP

Formulated to seal at lower temperatures - down to 100°C or even below depending on grade. Useful for heat-sensitive products or high-speed lines where reduced dwell time is needed.

Retort CPP

Engineered to withstand high-temperature sterilisation processes. Semi-retort grades handle temperatures up to 120°C, while high-temperature retort grades can withstand 130-135°C. Used in laminate structures for ready meals, pet food, and other products requiring in-pack sterilisation.

Retort CPP maintains seal integrity through the sterilisation cycle - no deformation, no seal failures, no flavour transfer to the contents.

Metallised CPP (METCPP)

CPP with a thin layer of aluminium deposited on the surface through vacuum metallisation. This dramatically improves barrier properties - oxygen transmission drops from poor to excellent, and moisture barrier improves further.

Metallised CPP is commonly used as the inner sealant layer in laminate structures like BOPP/METCPP or PET/METCPP. You get the printability and appearance of the outer layer combined with the barrier and sealability of the metallised CPP. Common applications include snack packaging, biscuits, and confectionery.

Applications

Laminate Structures

CPP’s most common role is as the sealant layer in multi-layer laminates. Typical structures include:

• BOPP/CPP - printed BOPP outer with CPP sealant layer
• PET/CPP - high-strength PET outer with CPP sealant
• BOPP/METCPP - printed outer with metallised barrier/sealant
• PET/METCPP - strength and barrier combined

The CPP provides reliable heat sealing while the outer layer handles printing, appearance, and mechanical strength.

Bags and Pouches

CPP works well for side-weld bags and pouches where its flexibility and tear resistance are advantages. The softer feel is also more pleasant for consumers than stiff, crinkly films.

Textile and Garment Packaging

CPP is widely used for garment bags, hosiery packaging, and textile overwraps. The soft drape gives it an almost textile-like feel, and the flexibility means it won’t crease or crack when folded. Good clarity lets customers see the product inside.

Confectionery

CPP can be used for twist wraps and flow wrap in confectionery, though it doesn’t have the dead-fold characteristics of cellophane or specialised twist films. For applications where the wrap needs to stay twisted, other materials may perform better.

Barrier Properties

Standard CPP provides a reasonable moisture barrier but relatively poor oxygen barrier. If oxygen sensitivity is a concern, metallised CPP (VMCPP) is the solution - the aluminium layer provides excellent oxygen and moisture barrier while maintaining CPP’s sealing properties.

For the highest barrier requirements, CPP is typically combined with other materials in a laminate structure rather than used as a mono-material.

Working With Us

We supply CPP made to order - we don’t hold stock of this material. Available as reels for bag-making or lamination, or we can convert into bags and pouches to your specification.

If you’re not sure whether CPP or BOPP is right for your application, give us a call and we’ll talk through the options. For large or ongoing requirements, our stockholding service lets you secure pricing and availability while calling off smaller quantities as needed.