There are a lot of reasons why you should consider shrink film for product packaging. From cost-effectiveness to eco-friendliness, shrink film has plenty of benefits to offer.

You may, however, need to look into several factors before buying rolls of shrink film. In this article, we will discuss those factors.

The cost of shrink film

Shrink film comes with a lower price tag compared to other packaging options such as glass, metal, paperboard, and cardboard. Not only is this material less expensive, but the costs related to its application to the products are also quite low. You can confirm it by weighing the material. It is lightweight, so it not going to add much to the shipping costs.

It would be worth mentioning the scenarios in which the shrink film costs might be higher compared to other packaging materials. If you want to use the shrink film as a surface to print branding elements, you may have to pay more for that. Graphics application and improving shelf-appeal of the product packaged in shrink film can be a costly endeavor.

If you are a budget-conscious company, you may need to choose options other than printed shrink film. A lot of printed packaging options are out there to help you avoid breaking the bank.

The environmental impact

Plastic is bad for the environment. Shrink film is plastic. So it must be bad. Right? Wrong, shrink film is one of the eco-friendliest packaging materials out there. That is because of the reduced carbon footprint compared to other packaging materials, including glass, metal, and even cardboard. It all comes down to the recyclability of the shrink film. It is recyclable, but there is a need for recycling units in place to do the job.

Shelf appeal

The best thing about a shrink film is its shelf-appeal. Because of the shrink film, your products get a glossy sheen, which adds much to their beauty. The ability to reflect light on the shelf makes a product wrapped in shrink film more noticeable compared to others. Moreover, the surface of the shrink film is seamless, which is another point of attraction.

If you want to improve the shelf-appeal of your product further, you may want to use printed shrink film, which is usually more expensive compared to plain shrink film. It is, however, the right option to consider when you expect branding advantages to outweigh the material cost.

Pros and cons

We will sum up the discussion about shrink film by explaining its pros and cons briefly. Here are the pros of shrink film.

• Lower material cost compared to other packaging materials
• Impressive shelf-appeal
• Glossy surface, which is eye-catching
• Lower carbon footprint compared to other packaging materials
• Take up less space in landfills

The cons of shrink film are the following.

• Not easily recyclable
• Might not be a good option for heat-sensitive products
• Might not be suitable for interactive products
• Might not suit well on luxury products
• Expensive when used as a secondary packaging option.