| Film Polymer |
Polyolefin (POF) for retail presentation; polyethylene (PE) for heavier loads and pallet stabilization; PVC only where local regulations and end-use requirements permit. |
Polymer identification, multilayer structure, recycled-content percentage, additives, and intended packaging application. |
SDS under the applicable chemical communication system; food-contact rules when the film touches food. |
Polymer selection affects recyclability, sealing equipment, storage stability, import documentation, and permitted additives. |
| Nominal Thickness |
Common commercial ranges are approximately 12–25 μm for light-duty POF and 40–100 μm for many PE applications. The correct range depends on load, puncture risk, and equipment. |
Declared thickness, tolerance, roll length, net film weight, and thickness test results from representative lots. |
ASTM D6988 for thickness measurement guidance; ISO 4593 for thickness determination of plastic film and sheeting. |
A lower thickness can reduce material use but may increase breakage, claims, and total packaging cost during long-distance transport. |
| Shrinkage Performance |
Typical free-shrink values vary by formulation and direction: POF often provides approximately 40–70% shrink in the machine or transverse direction; PE commonly provides lower, more load-oriented shrink behavior. |
Machine-direction and transverse-direction shrinkage curves at specified temperatures and exposure times. |
ASTM D2732 for unconstrained linear thermal shrinkage of plastic film and sheeting. |
Do not compare shrink percentages unless the temperature, dwell time, specimen size, and test direction are identical. |
| Sealing and Shrink Temperature |
Many POF systems seal and shrink in approximately 120–180°C equipment ranges; PE systems commonly require different settings and stronger sealing conditions. |
Recommended sealing temperature, tunnel temperature, conveyor speed, dwell time, sealing-window data, and compatibility with the buyer’s machine. |
Supplier process specification and documented machine trials; no single international temperature standard applies to every shrink film. |
A film that performs well on one machine may produce weak seals, holes, or distortion on another; require a production-equipment trial before approval. |
| Tensile Strength and Elongation |
Set minimum values separately for machine and transverse directions because orientation can create significant directional differences. |
Material data sheet and lot test results for tensile strength, elongation at break, and yield behavior. |
ASTM D882 or ISO 527-3 for tensile properties of thin plastic film. |
Use both strength and elongation requirements; high tensile strength alone does not guarantee resistance to puncture or seal failure. |
| Puncture and Tear Resistance |
Important for products with corners, sharp edges, irregular shapes, and mixed-load pallets. Minimum values should be established through the actual distribution route. |
Impact, puncture, tear, and seal-strength results using production samples rather than laboratory-only samples. |
ASTM D1709 for falling-dart impact; ASTM D1922 for tear propagation; ASTM F88/F88M for seal strength where applicable. |
Test after conditioning and, when relevant, after simulated vibration, compression, cold storage, or container transport. |
| Optical Appearance |
For retail packs, evaluate haze, clarity, gloss, gels, fish-eyes, wrinkles, and consistent shrink appearance. Industrial pallet film may prioritize strength over clarity. |
Approved visual standard, haze or gloss limits, defect classification, inspection lighting, and acceptable defect count per roll. |
ASTM D1003 for haze and luminous transmittance; ASTM D2457 for specular gloss of plastic films. |
Include reference samples and photographic defect standards in the purchase specification to reduce cross-border quality disputes. |
| Coefficient of Friction |
A controlled coefficient of friction supports reliable feeding, film tracking, stacking, and automated packaging-line operation. |
Static and kinetic coefficient-of-friction values, test surfaces, conditioning conditions, and whether the film is treated or coated. |
ASTM D1894 or ISO 8295 for friction testing of plastic film and sheeting. |
Values can change with slip additives, humidity, storage time, and contact with printed surfaces. |
| Food-Contact Compliance |
Required only when the film directly contacts food or is otherwise within the scope of the destination market’s food-packaging rules. |
Declaration of compliance, formulation or substance-use statement, migration test report, and applicable food-contact limitations. |
EU Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for applicable plastic food-contact materials; FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 for applicable olefin polymers in the United States. |
Confirm the destination market, food type, contact temperature, duration, and surface-area-to-food ratio before requesting testing. |
| Chemical and Restricted-Substance Compliance |
The film should be screened against destination-market restrictions on substances, additives, inks, adhesives, and intentionally added chemicals. |
Current SDS, restricted-substance declaration, formulation statement where legally available, and third-party screening report when required. |
EU REACH obligations; destination-specific packaging, heavy-metal, chemical, and waste rules. RoHS should not be treated as a general packaging certificate unless the product is within its scope. |
Compliance is destination- and application-specific; request written confirmation of the exact legal basis rather than a generic “eco” or “non-toxic” claim. |
| Recyclability and Recycled Content |
Prefer a clearly identified, compatible mono-material structure where practical. Recycled content may be pre-consumer or post-consumer and can affect appearance and performance. |
Material composition, recycled-content calculation, chain-of-custody evidence, recyclability assessment, and disposal labeling guidance. |
ISO 14021 for self-declared environmental claims; destination-market packaging and extended producer responsibility rules. |
“Recyclable” depends on collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure in the destination country, not only on the polymer itself. |
| Supplier Quality System |
A documented quality system with controlled raw materials, calibrated instruments, lot traceability, corrective actions, and retained samples. |
Quality manual or process overview, certificate scope, audit reports, inspection plan, calibration records, and nonconformance procedure. |
ISO 9001 certification may support supplier evaluation, but it does not certify the performance of a specific film product. |
Verify that the certificate is current, issued by a credible certification body, and covers the actual manufacturing site and relevant production activity. |
| Laboratory Competence |
Independent testing is preferable for qualification, disputes, regulatory evidence, and high-risk applications. |
Laboratory accreditation scope, test method, sample identification, conditioning details, uncertainty where relevant, and complete report. |
ISO/IEC 17025 for competence of testing and calibration laboratories. |
Check that the accreditation scope covers the exact test method; an accredited laboratory is not automatically accredited for every test it performs. |
| Roll Dimensions and Core |
Specify layflat or tube width, roll length, winding direction, core inner diameter, core material, roll outside diameter, and maximum roll weight. |
Dimensional tolerance, roll-weight tolerance, telescoping limit, splice policy, core specification, and pallet configuration. |
Contractual product specification and agreed inspection sampling plan; no universal global tolerance applies to all equipment. |
Incorrect core size or roll weight can stop automated lines and create avoidable ocean-freight and warehouse-handling costs. |
| Storage and Shelf Life |
Store in a cool, dry, clean area away from direct sunlight, heaters, ozone-generating equipment, and excessive compression. The supplier should define a validated shelf-life period. |
Recommended temperature and humidity range, maximum stacking height, first-in-first-out guidance, shelf-life basis, and post-storage performance data. |
Supplier validation protocol and agreed accelerated-aging or real-time-aging evidence where shelf life is critical. |
Long ocean transit and hot containers can change shrink response, blocking, odor, and seal performance; include transport-season controls. |
| Packaging and Export Protection |
Use moisture-resistant outer packaging, corner protection, stable pallets, clear lot labels, and protection against dust and ultraviolet exposure. |
Packing specification, pallet dimensions, gross and net weights, container-loading plan, lot labeling format, and photographs before shipment. |
ISPM 15 requirements for regulated solid-wood packaging components; applicable transport and customs documentation. |
Confirm whether pallets, crates, or blocking contain solid wood and whether the destination requires compliant treatment and marking. |
| Inspection and Acceptance Plan |
Use risk-based incoming inspection covering dimensions, appearance, sealing, shrinkage, mechanical properties, and documentation. |
Approved specification, sampling level, acceptance criteria, retained sample process, certificate of analysis, and corrective-action response time. |
ISO 2859-1 may be used for attribute-sampling plans when the parties agree on the inspection level and acceptance criteria. |
Define critical, major, and minor defects before purchase; sampling standards do not replace clearly stated product requirements. |
| Commercial and Supply Continuity |
Evaluate lead time, minimum order quantity, capacity, raw-material continuity, backup production, payment terms, and change-notification procedures. |
Capacity statement, production calendar, business-continuity plan, change-control policy, forecast commitment requirements, and sample-to-mass-production timeline. |
Contractual requirements and documented supplier-change notification; certification alone does not demonstrate supply continuity. |
Qualify at least one technically compatible alternative where packaging downtime could interrupt production or international distribution. |
