Mono and laminated films for snack, fresh food, dry goods. PE-only structures rising to comply with PPWR recyclability mandate.
Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) films cover most food applications: snack bags, fresh produce wrap, stand-up pouches and frozen food packs. Biaxially-oriented PP (BOPP) — often metallised — dominates crisp and snack bags. Cast PP and PE blends handle horizontal flow-wrap for bread and produce. Multilayer PE/PE structures are replacing PET/PE laminates to comply with PPWR recyclability rules.
Mono-material PE bags (LDPE or LLDPE) are recyclable through soft-plastics collection schemes that exist in some European countries. Multi-layer films combining PET and PE — historically common for snack and pouch packaging — are technically harder to recycle, which is why brand owners are actively redesigning to PE-only or PP-only structures ahead of PPWR's 2030 design-for-recycling thresholds.
The standard structure is metallised BOPP (biaxially-oriented polypropylene) film, sometimes laminated with a PE seal layer. The metallised layer provides oxygen and moisture barrier to keep snacks fresh; the BOPP backbone gives the stiffness needed for stand-up pouch geometry. Newer monomaterial PE structures using high-barrier coatings are emerging to meet PPWR recyclability targets.
Modern cling films sold in Europe for household and commercial food contact are typically polyethylene (PE) or non-PVC alternatives. Older PVC-based cling films, which contained plasticisers like DEHA that could migrate into fatty foods, have been largely phased out of European retail. Always check the food-contact declaration on the pack — anything compliant should reference EU 10/2011.