Shrink film: damage to the environment and green alternatives

Staff Cart-One 19/06/2026 0

Shrink film is one of the most often used packaging in the Food & Beverage sector. This type of packaging is suitable for manual and automatic lines and represents an optimal way to seal products.

While representing an economic and sustainable method, perfect for the needs of large retailers, at the same time its environmental impact cannot be denied when it becomes waste.

The shrink film, if not made with biodegradable films, often becomes a mere waste without any possibility of being differentiated. The question to ask, therefore, is: is shrink film always necessary?

The ecological alternatives to shrink film

More and more consumers today are demanding sustainable packaging for the products they buy. This trend is encouraged by a greater green culture and a wider awareness of the damage caused by global warming and climate change, mainly due to a lifestyle based solely on use and consumption.

Recycling is now a reality to which consumers are accustomed, but at the same time the latter are always looking for a product that has a packaging that can be easy to differentiate. For shrink film, however, this may not always be the case.

In addition to the production of biodegradable films or films made of recycled plastic that can be used in contact with food, one wonders if the shrink film is really indispensable for the Beverage sector.

As for the bottles, the shrink wrap performs the function of transporting several bottles at the same time. Let's think, for example, of the classic water packaging, where the bottles are held together by the wrapper.

In these cases, transport solutions in other materials, such as corrugated cardboard, can also be used. This is the revolution brought about by ECOGRIP.

Cardboard packaging: a sustainable resource

With ECOGRIP a new approach to packaging opens up. The product was developed by Blue Box Partners, the European alliance of cardboard packaging manufacturers to which Sada and Sandra belong thanks to their participation in the Cart-One network.

The aim was to provide a sustainable alternative for bottle transport. ECOGRIP offers the possibility of eliminating the shrink film in favor of a 100% biodegradable solution, coming from recycled raw materials and in turn recyclable.

ECOGRIP was conceived on the basis of an Eco - design philosophy that avoids wasting raw materials while maximizing results.

You may also like...

Staff Cart-One 18/06/2026

Black Friday and packaging boxes: all the solutions to choose from
The importance of cardboard packaging cannot be underestimated. It is a crucial element for any business selling physical products, as it not only protects the content but also plays a fundamental role in attracting customers and communicating brand value. Black Friday and packaging boxes: all the solutions to choose from. With the arrival of Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, having an assortment of packaging boxes tailored to your business needs is essential. In this article, we will examine the different cardboard packaging solutions available to you ahead of Black Friday. Read also: “Paper and cardboard food packaging: a sustainable revolution in the packaging world” Why packaging is vital during Black Friday On Black Friday, businesses must manage a high volume of orders, making the use of reliable and practical packaging essential. Packaging boxes must not only protect the product but also reflect the brand's identity, offering an impeccable presentation to the customer. This is particularly important, as Black Friday provides businesses with a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship with their customers through a positive purchasing experience, which begins as soon as the package is opened. It is therefore crucial to choose high-quality materials that can withstand the rigors of logistics while ensuring great aesthetics and functionality. Custom boxes Custom boxes are the key to distinguishing your brand from competitors during Black Friday. These boxes are fully customizable in terms of size, design, and style. You can add your logo, corporate colors, and promotional messages to create a lasting impression on customers. During Black Friday, custom boxes can help you communicate your special offers and create a memorable unboxing experience. Well-designed custom packaging improves brand perception and makes every delivery a special moment for the customer, increasing the likelihood of repeat purchases and positive word-of-mouth. Clothing boxes If your business is in the apparel industry, you will need boxes specifically designed to fit the garments you sell. Clothing boxes can be customized to fit t-shirts, pants, dresses, and more. Make sure to have a variety of sizes available so you can satisfy the diverse needs of your customers during Black Friday. Food boxes If you offer food products, safety and freshness are essential. Cardboard food boxes are engineered to keep food items safe during transport. Ensure your food boxes are made from food-contact safe materials and are moisture-resistant to preserve the quality of your products. Eco-friendly boxes Environmental awareness is increasingly important to consumers. Choosing recyclable cardboard boxes or boxes made from sustainable materials can help display your commitment to sustainability during Black Friday. This choice can attract eco-conscious customers and enhance your corporate reputation. Furthermore, sustainable packaging reduces disposal costs and simplifies the recycling process, offering customers a responsible and planet-friendly option. Strength and quality for your packaging Cart-One packaging begins with the production of corrugated cardboard sheets. We ensure they possess all the required features, the best performance, and a responsible attention to quality. Here are our products: Regular slotted boxes (American boxes) These are the ultimate cardboard boxes for packaging, storage, and freight transport. Made of corrugated cardboard, American boxes are shock and impact resistant; moreover, they feature a robust outer shell, making them suitable for shipping heavy goods. These boxes provide optimal protection during intensive shipping periods, such as Black Friday, minimizing the risk of damage and returns. Display boxes These are designed to contain and transport any type of goods, from food and cosmetics to pharmaceuticals, hi-tech items, and housewares. Countertop or floor-standing, display boxes are designed and built to guarantee maximum efficiency and visibility for your products. Ideal for capturing customer attention directly at the point of sale, display boxes represent an effective marketing strategy, especially for promotional products tied to Black Friday. Die-cut boxes These boxes are always delivered flat and can be processed by the customer either automatically or manually. Die-cut packaging boxes represent the best solution when you want to enhance the product contained inside. Functional and practical, they are primarily intended for packaging and transporting uniquely shaped items and products. They guarantee faster assembly, accurate protection, and a superior aesthetic finish. This type is perfect for products that require an exclusive design, ensuring an unboxing experience that leaves a mark. Special crates These are packaging boxes structured to contain and transport unconventional objects such as televisions and bicycles, as they require special formats with specific reinforcements. Despite requiring additional processing, special packaging crates are built to simplify every operation. During Black Friday, when the variety of products to be shipped can be very wide, these crates represent a practical and secure choice even for large-sized items. Plan your Black Friday packaging in advance Make sure to plan ahead and have an assortment of boxes tailored to your requirements. Advance preparation is essential to respond promptly to the order volume during Black Friday, when packaging and shipping speed are vital to guarantee customer satisfaction. In this way, you can impress your customers, protect your products, and achieve outstanding results during Black Friday. Discover all Cart-One solutions for your Black Friday packaging and optimize your business shipments with packaging that makes a difference. You might also be interested in: “Italy leader in recycling: 9 out of 10 paper and cardboard packages are recycled”
Read more

Staff Cart-One 19/06/2026

Packaging and Recycling: between perspective and reality
One of the "hottest" topics of the last period is certainly that concerning the prospects of recycling and recovery of packaging. If at first the COVID-19 pandemic had beneficial effects on the environment, over time this result could easily be compromised by the production of new non-recyclable waste: we are obviously talking about disposable masks and plastic gloves, often abandoned on the street after use. Once again, it is therefore necessary to rethink our lifestyles, in order to benefit the environment and the entire community. What is sustainable packaging? Sustainable packaging is not just a recyclable packaging, but a product conceived and designed by saving on the material used to favor its recycling and recovery fiber through specific actions, which can represent various advantages in terms of environmental protection and savings in productive processes. From the consumers' point of view, paper and glass are considered the best packaging: taking advantage of this consideration, it is necessary to encourage their recovery and recycling. In particular, paper is recognized, at the level of general perception, precisely for its sustainability, recyclability and biodegradability (Considerations from a survey by TwoSides and OnePool). Why is it important to support paper recycling? Paper, like cardboard, has an intrinsic value, being a natural product of plant origin, but it also has its own value linked to the ability to recycle. The percentage recovered, in fact, reserves most of the forest and manage the green heritage in a sustainable manner. The commitment made by companies, but also by ordinary citizens, for the recovery of paper, has been significant up to now: thanks to the actions undertaken by Conai and Comieco, it has gone from being importers of paper to be recycled to exporters. The paper recycling in Italy: where we are? Italy has reached an important milestone at European level, boasting the second place for per capita recycling rate. If only one in three packaging was recycled in the 1990s, today the percentage has risen to 71%, of which we distinguish 81% relating to cardboard packaging alone. With these so important estimates, which bring us close to the 85% threshold (goal to be achieved by 2030 according to European directives), it is clear that we must not only act in terms of sustainable recycling, but also in the design of low environmental impact packaging. The packaging design must not only be recyclable, but it must be designed to be recycled: in this way it will also be possible to promote the improvement of the quality of the recovered waste. Separate collection must be thought for all recyclable materials, for the functioning of the supply chain. In this sense, especially for polylaminate materials, which combine plastic materials with paper, it is necessary to offer the consumer clear and simple indications on how to separate and dispose of this type of packaging. More and more often we talk of "talking packaging", which can offer all the information necessary for proper recycling, even using the most modern technologies, such as the augmented reality app developed by Conai in partnership with Tecnoalimenti. But Italy is also at the forefront in terms of strategies and techniques for recovering polylaminate packaging. Another goal to be achieved is the ability to deepen and further specialize separate waste collection through the division between paper and cardboard compared to beverage containers or other similarly made containers. By acting in this way, logistic routes can be differentiated and waste sent to specialized centers for treatment and recycling. EcoDTool the new Conai project for sustainable design Conai promoted the EcoDtool project to encourage the search for a sustainable packaging design. It is a scientific instrument of simplified analysis that measures the environmental impact. The factors taken into account are energy and water consumption and production-related CO2 emissions. The second phase concerns training, which through the study of the packaging life cycle and improvement actions promotes its sustainability. Finally, two other very important factors are introduced in the end of life, which take into consideration the secondary raw material that can be generated based on the variation of a circularity indicator that refers to reused, recyclable and recycled content. In this sense, CART-ONE has adopted a supply chain that favors the production and minimization of waste through processes that minimize the environmental impact and that adopt solutions for the recycling of production waste.
Read more

Staff Cart-One 18/06/2026

Packaging cardboards: what materials are they made of?
The materials used in packaging cardboards play a crucial role in protecting your products during transport and storage. In our commitment to offering cutting-edge packaging solutions, we have carefully selected our materials to ensure outstanding performance and a reduced environmental impact. Packaging cardboards: what materials are they made of? If you are looking for the perfect combination of sustainability, strength, and versatility, you are in the right place. Let's find out all the details in the rest of the article. Read also: “The differences between American boxes and die-cut boxes” Corrugated cardboard: the heart of our packaging Our primary material is corrugated cardboard, renowned for its layered structure that provides both sturdiness and flexibility. This lightweight material is eco-friendly, fully recyclable, and offers an exceptional shock-absorbing capacity, protecting your products from damage during transport. Corrugated cardboard is the beating heart of the innovative packaging industry, a material that combines lightness and resistance with a touch of versatility. Its layered structure is the secret to its strength, with strategically glued layers that create a protective barrier against impacts and mechanical stress. But its appeal goes beyond its strength: corrugated cardboard, as previously mentioned, is a champion of sustainability, completely recyclable and environmentally friendly. Layers and adhesives: the formula for success The resistance of our corrugated cardboard comes from the combination of different layers, each serving a specific purpose. Our manufacturing process involves the use of high-adherence glues, ensuring a secure bond without compromising the product's eco-sustainability. Sustainability comes first We are fully aware of the importance of sustainability in today's business landscape. Our packaging cardboards are made from 100% recyclable materials, helping to reduce environmental impact. Furthermore, we are constantly committed to improving our manufacturing practices to minimize waste and resource consumption. Tailor-made versatility for your needs In addition to sustainability, we understand the importance of customization. We offer tailor-made packaging solutions to meet the specific requirements of our clients. Whether it is packing delicate items or large-scale goods, we have the ideal solution for you. Our packaging cardboards are not just containers, but a commitment to a more sustainable and resilient future. Investing in our products means investing in quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility. For further information or to request a customized quote, do not hesitate to contact us. To learn more: “Food packaging: better if made of corrugated cardboard”
Read more

Cerca...