Single-use polyethylene film remains one of the largest contributors to unrecyclable plastic waste across manufacturing and logistics facilities. Every day, facilities generate substantial volumes of stretch and shrink film used solely for load containment and inventory staging.
As disposal fees, carbon reporting, and regional plastic surcharges increase, plant managers face growing pressure to find functional, bio-based alternatives that perform on standard packaging lines. Early bio-based packaging films often lacked the mechanical strength required for automated pallet wrappers, causing frequent tears and load failures in transit.
To overcome these mechanical limitations, EcoCortec, the European subsidiary of Cortec Corporation, developed two certified compostable packaging films for heavy-duty industrial use: EcoShrink and EcoWrap. Manufactured at its facility in Croatia, these films serve as direct replacements for conventional polyethylene. They allow operations teams to maintain pallet load stability and meet environmental targets using their existing wrapping equipment and packaging workflows.
The company says EcoShrink solves the challenge of heat-shrinking both oversized equipment and smaller components without compromising on sustainability. Designed with the complete product lifecycle in mind, it is formulated with 45% biopolymers sourced from certified commercially compostable resins. When standard heat is applied, the film shrinks evenly to form a tough, protective barrier that seals out dust, dirt, and moisture ensuring complete protection during transit and extended outdoor yard storage. EcoShrink is engineered for long-term shelf stability: it maintains its structural integrity indefinitely under normal storage conditions and begins breaking down only when exposed to an industrial composting environment.
Compostable alternatives for palletizing and cargo bundling
For palletizing and cargo bundling, EcoWrap represents the first commercially available compostable, industrial-strength stretch film. Certified ‘OK compost Industrial’ by TÜV Austria under EN 13432 and ASTM D6400, EcoWrap incorporates a specialized tackifier formulation to overcome common bioplastic performance limits.
This provides the cling and stretch elasticity needed to run on standard automated wrapping equipment without machine retrofits or workflow adjustments. Due to its high tensile strength, operators can secure heavy pallet loads using fewer wraps compared to conventional stretch film. This provides two immediate benefits: reduced material consumption per unit shipped and direct mitigation of rising plastic taxes and landfill surcharges. Designed for commercial composting facilities, EcoWrap breaks down alongside organic waste into nutrient-rich soil for agricultural use.
Applicable across manufacturing, eCommerce, agriculture, and logistics operations, EcoWrap and EcoShrink provide a scalable alternative to conventional polyethylene films.
While stretch and shrink wrapping remain essentials in modern logistics, adding to landfill volume and unrecyclable plastic waste streams is no longer an inevitable byproduct of shipping. By adopting EcoWrap and EcoShrink, industrial operations can route used packaging to local commercial composting facilities instead of waste compactors. This allows packaging engineers and logistics managers to meet ambitious corporate waste-reduction targets without compromising load integrity or shipping protection.
