Polyolefin Shrink Film

What is Polyolefin Shrink Film?

Polyolefin shrink film - often abbreviated to POF - is a blend of polyethylene and polypropylene that shrinks tightly around products when heat is applied. It’s the modern standard for presentation packaging, having largely replaced PVC shrink film in food applications over the past two decades.

The film starts as a loose sleeve or wrap around your product. Pass it through a heat tunnel or apply heat with a shrink gun, and it contracts uniformly to create a tight, clear, professional-looking package. Shrink ratios of 50-70% mean the film conforms closely to product shapes, including irregular items.

You’ll find polyolefin shrink on multipacks in supermarkets, gift sets in department stores, bakery items, stationery, and countless other retail products where clear presentation matters.

Why Polyolefin Replaced PVC

PVC shrink film dominated the market for decades, but polyolefin has taken over for good reasons:

	Polyolefin	PVC
Food safety	FDA approved for direct contact	Not approved for food contact
Fumes when heated	None - clean shrinking	Emits hydrogen chloride gas
Clarity	Excellent, doesn’t cloud over time	Good initially, may cloud
Seal strength	Superior	Weaker seals
Cold performance	Flexible to -50°C	Becomes brittle when cold
Recyclability	Yes - supermarket collection	Limited, contains chlorine
Plasticisers	None	Contains plasticisers

The switch from PVC to polyolefin isn’t just about regulatory compliance - POF genuinely performs better. Stronger seals, better clarity, no risk of the film going brittle in cold storage or clouding over time on the shelf.

If you’re currently using PVC shrink and considering alternatives, polyolefin is the direct replacement for most applications.

Centre-Folded vs Single-Wound

We supply polyolefin shrink film in two formats:

Centre-Folded Film

The film is folded in half lengthways on the roll. When you unwind it, you have a sleeve with the fold on one side and two free edges on the other. Our maximum centre-fold width is 750mm (which opens to 1500mm flat).

Centre-folded film works with L-bar sealers - you slide the product into the sleeve, position it, and the L-sealer creates three seals in one motion (cutting and sealing the open side and both ends). The fold provides the fourth sealed edge.

This format suits low to medium volume production and is the most common choice for businesses running their own shrink wrapping.

For more on centre-folded packaging film, see our centre-folded reels page.

Single-Wound (Flat) Film

Single-wound film is a flat sheet wound onto the roll without any fold. It’s typically used on high-speed automated packaging lines where two rolls create a top and bottom web, or where the equipment forms the sleeve from flat film.

Single-wound reduces roll changes on very high-speed lines - you’re not doubling the film on itself, so each roll contains more linear metres.

We can supply single-wound polyolefin for automated flow wrap applications.

Types of Polyolefin Film

Standard Polyolefin

The general-purpose option for most applications. Excellent clarity, reliable shrinkage, good puncture resistance. This is what most businesses need for retail presentation and multipacking.

Cross-Linked Polyolefin

A manufacturing process modifies the molecular structure to create a stronger, more puncture-resistant film. Cross-linked POF handles sharp edges better and maintains seal integrity under more demanding conditions.

Cross-linked film is worth considering for:

• Products with sharp corners or edges
• Heavy items that stress the film
• High-speed lines where seal reliability is critical
• Applications requiring maximum puncture resistance

The trade-off is slightly higher cost and a narrower processing window.

Low-Temperature Shrink

Formulated to shrink at lower temperatures - useful for heat-sensitive products or where energy savings matter. The film begins shrinking at around 80-100°C rather than the typical 120°C+.

Perforation Options

For products that need to breathe or where trapped air would cause ballooning during shrinking, we can supply polyolefin with hot needle microperforation in various patterns. The perforations allow air to escape during the shrink process while remaining virtually invisible on the finished pack.

Applications

Polyolefin shrink film suits any application where you need clear, tight, attractive packaging:

Multipacks - Bundling cans, bottles, jars, or cartons into retail multipacks. The film holds items securely while letting customers see exactly what they’re buying.

Bakery - Muffins, biscuits, cakes, and other baked goods. Polyolefin’s food safety and clarity make it ideal for bakery retail.

Confectionery - Gift boxes, selection packs, seasonal items. The high gloss finish adds to the premium presentation.

Gift sets - Cosmetics, toiletries, stationery sets. Clean shrink with no wrinkles for retail-ready presentation.

Media and publishing - DVDs, books, magazines, games. Tamper evidence plus protection from handling.

General retail - Anything that benefits from clear presentation packaging and protection during distribution.

Sustainability

Polyolefin shrink film is now recyclable via the soft plastic collection points at major UK supermarkets. As a mixed polyolefin (PE+PP blend), it’s accepted under OPRL guidelines updated in 2024.

This is a significant development - shrink film previously had limited recycling options. Packaging can now carry the “Recycle with bags at larger stores” label.

We can also supply polyolefin with 30%+ post-consumer recycled content for customers looking to meet Plastic Packaging Tax thresholds or corporate sustainability targets.

Equipment Compatibility

Polyolefin shrink film works with standard shrink wrapping equipment:

• L-bar sealers - Manual or semi-automatic, paired with centre-folded film
• Chamber sealers - Seal and shrink in one unit, good for lower volumes
• Heat tunnels - Conveyor-fed shrink tunnels for higher throughput
• Shrink guns - Hand-held heat guns for occasional or awkward items

We use a chamber sealer ourselves to shrink wrap our sheet products. If you’re unsure whether polyolefin will work with your equipment, give us a call - we can advise on film selection and typical temperature settings.

Working With Us

We supply polyolefin shrink film made to order in both centre-folded and single-wound formats. Maximum width is 1500mm flat (750mm centre-folded), with 240mm OD rolls as standard - though we can accommodate other roll specifications if your equipment requires it.

As a family-owned UK converter with four decades in flexible packaging, we’re happy to advise on the right specification for your application. For ongoing requirements, our stockholding service lets you secure pricing and availability while calling off smaller quantities as needed.