You are looking for a new flexible packaging film. Perhaps you are looking for a more affordable alternative to cellophane.
Or, maybe, you require a film that has increased strength and superior barrier properties to resist water vapor and oxygen gas.
You may have many reasons for searching for biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film (also known as BOPP). But, the main thing you have had trouble finding concerning this material is information.
You have likely discovered that BOPP is a bit obscure when compared to other types of flexible packaging films. And, this has made finding the information you are looking for even more difficult.
Well, today, we are going to solve that problem for you.
As a multi-generational packaging company, Industrial Packaging has over 65 years of experience with packaging films. And, we have a library of information on the different types of packaging films currently available.
With the information in this article, you will better understand biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film, its applications, and its uses.
What Is Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film?
Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film is a type of flexible packaging film. Biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film is stretched in machine and transverse directions. This results in a molecular chain orientation in both directions.
This type of flexible packaging film is created via a tubular production process. A tube-shaped film bubble is inflated and heated to its softening point (this is different from the melting point) and is stretched with machinery. The film stretches between 300% - 400%.
Alternatively, the film can also be stretched by a process known as tenter-frame film manufacturing. With this technique, the polymers are extruded onto a cooled cast roll (also known as a base sheet) and drawn along the machine direction. Tenter-frame film manufacturing uses several sets of rolls to create this film.
The tenter-frame process generally stretches the film 4.5:1 in the machine direction and 8.0:1 in the transverse direction. That being said, the ratios are fully adjustable.
The tenter-frame process is more common than the tubular variant. It produces a highly glossy, clear film. Biaxial orientation increases strength and results in superior stiffness, enhanced transparency, and high resistance to oil and grease.
BOPP film also boasts increased barrier properties to vapor and oxygen. Impact resistance and flexcrack resistance are substantially better with BOPP versus polypropylene shrink film.
Want to learn more about shrink film?
What Are The Applications For BOPP Overwrap Film?
Biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap films are most commonly used for food packaging. They are fast replacing cellophane for applications including snack food and tobacco packaging. This is primarily due to their superior properties and lower cost.
Many companies choose to use BOPP in place of traditional shrink films as they feature enhanced properties and capabilities that are superior to those of standard flexible packaging films.
It should be noted that heat sealing is difficult for BOPP films. However, this can be made easier by coating the film after processing with a heat-sealable material or co-extruding with a co-polymer before processing. This will result in a multi-layer film.
Who Uses Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film?
Businesses that commonly use BOPP film include food manufacturing and distribution companies, tobacco companies, supermarkets, and consumer goods manufacturing companies.
You can see BOPP at your local supermarkets, retail food stores, and gas stations.
Many companies that use cellophane for their product packaging also use BOPP films. In some cases, these companies have replaced cellophane altogether with BOPP film.
Is B
iaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film Right For You?
To figure out if BOPP films are the correct packaging solution for your company's packaging requirements, you will need to answer a few questions.
Do
you need a stronger packaging film than regular polypropylene shrink film?
- If that is the case, BOPP film is a good fit for you.
The company is the world’s best BOPP Tape Coating Machine supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Is BOPP Or Shrink Film Right For Your Packaging Needs?
With the answers to the questions above, you should have everything you need to figure out if biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film is proper for your packaging or not.
With that being said, BOPP may or may not be the best type of flexible packaging film for your packaging requirements.
Depending on your application, shrink film may be a better choice. Would you like to learn about the different kinds of shrink films currently available and which one would be most appropriate for your business?
If you would like to learn more about the different types of shrink films, you will want to consider reading our complete guide to shrink film.
This free resource is packed to the brim with everything you need to help you choose the correct shrink film for your packaging line.
BOPP films can be made both mechanically and manually. It is used for packaging, labeling and laminating. The various benefits provided by the BOPP films are: the high quality, high sustainability, increase shelf life of products, better looks and low density. Because of the numerous benefits provided by the BOPP films make it the most in demand material for packing food.
In virtually every industry, strategic packaging materials influence everything from product safety to supply chain mobility to how a product sells.
This makes selecting the right bag for your industry or application essential for success.
After all, today’s bags aren’t just bags. Far from it. Modern bulk bags, such as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), have been exhaustively engineered and tested by experts to work well under specific conditions.
For your bag to work well under your specific conditions (e.g., where your warehouse is located, what type of filling apparatus you use, the nature of your product), you need to know which type of bag you need.
Knowing how to tell if your specific type of bag is well made? Also key.
Here’s a quick primer on three types of bags that are overwhelmingly popular across several industries and how to determine which type is perfect for your needs.
What are PP, OPP, and BOPP bags?
Let’s start with some definitions.
The letters “PP” in PP, OPP, and BOPP stand for polypropylene. Polypropylene is a polymer that is strong, resistant to many chemicals, and has favorable heat and barrier properties.
In other words: It makes for a durable and versatile bag. Polypropylene is often used to make coatings, films, tapes, and printed FIBCs on a mass scale.
Polypropylene can be manipulated to produce OPP and BOPP materials, or oriented and biaxially oriented polypropylene.
Oriented polypropylene
, or OPP, is a type of polypropylene film that is stretched in one direction. This offers better strength, clarity, and printability when compared to PP film. OPP tends to be used for labels and small film bags.
Biaxially oriented polypropylene
, or BOPP, is a type of polypropylene film that’s been stretched in two perpendicular directions. This offers even more strength, printability, and clarity when compared to PP and OPP materials. BOPP film is used to laminate over woven tapes often used in packaging. And because BOPP has innate printability, it’s commonly used for intricate branding and printing details on midsize or large bulk packages.
Which Industries are PP, OPP, and BOPP Bags Good For?
As we mentioned above, each type of bag is great for specific applications, as each offers unique strengths.
It’s worth discussing with your FIBC supplier which type of bag will work best for you, but here’s a quick overview:
Polypropylene (PP) bags are great for FIBCs, sandbags, and geotextiles. They’re fantastic multipurpose bags because they’re versatile, durable, and cost-effective.
Oriented polypropylene (OPP) bags excel when used to create small packaging materials, often in the medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries—particularly when they don’t need to carry much weight.
Biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) bags are best suited for packaging that needs many of the same qualities as OPP bags but also must support more weight. BOPP film is often used with woven tapes to create durable packaging materials. BOPP film is especially common in the pet food and food ingredient industries because they require bags that can carry 25-50 lbs.
The Pros and Cons of PP, OPP, and BOPP Bags
When you choose a specific type of bag, you need all of the information in front of you.
We’ve discussed general definitions of each type of bag and the industries they support best. To round out this guide, here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each type of bag (save this post for later reference):
PP Woven Bags with PP Lamination
Pros and Cons:
- PP bags are sustainable, moisture-resistant, durable, and chemical-resistant.
- They’re also highly flammable, offer limited printability, and do not necessarily protect existing printing detail.
OPP Film Bags
Pros and Cons:
- OPP film bags are strong, hard to puncture or tear, and have a transparent, glossy finish. These bags are also moisture- and dust-proof.
- OPP film bags are difficult to stretch, and there’s a limit to how much weight they can carry.
BOPP Bags
Pros and Cons:
- BOPP bags provide high tensile strength, excellent clarity, and a high degree of dimensional stability and flatness.
- These bags have a low electrostatic charge, present a barrier to water vapor, and are resistant to oils and greases.
- Aesthetically, BOPP bags provide several perks: They have a high-gloss finish, offer reverse printing ability, and perform well in high-speed printing applications.
- Finally, BOPP bags are not affected by moisture. They don’t wrinkle or shrink with environmental changes. Plus, they’re recyclable!
- The disadvantages are limited, but BOPP bags are not biodegradable. However, they are considered recyclable and classified in the No. 5 plastic recycling stream accepted by some recycling facilities.
- One long-standing disadvantage of BOPP bags was sealing. However, Sonoco has recently announced the first heat-sealable BOPP barrier bag available for industrial bulk packaging applications, such as animal and pet food manufacturing.
Choose the Right Bag for Your Needs with Sonoco
Need help figuring out which bag is best for you? Consider these questions:
- What grade of safety does your product require (e.g., food-grade, medical-grade)?
- How important is crystal-clear branding for your product’s success?
- Think about the equipment and processes you already have in place. Do you heat-seal your bags, for example?
- Do you require a specifically sized bag?
If you’re interested in speaking with a packaging expert to determine the best bag for your needs, reach out to Sonoco. Our friendly representatives and materials science engineers will be more than happy to discuss your packaging needs!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Tape Rewinding Machine. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.