Is it customer driven?  Do you use what you are familiar with?  

For many years PET has been the material of choice for its versatility and cost effectiveness for food packaging applications. However, recently we have begun to see a surge in demand for polypropylene sheet, giving PET a run for it’s money particularly in the food and foodservice packaging segments. While polypropylene is by no means a “new” material, we find that the majority of our customers who have used PET for years aren’t familiar with all of the benefits inherent to this polymer.  

This in turn, led us to put together a list of attributes that make polypropylene sheet worth taking a second look for your next food packaging project:

1. Low Density – When compared to other polymers, PP has the lowest density, resulting in more parts from the same amount of material.
   
   
2. Light Weight – PP has the lightest weight of all the polymers, resulting in a lighter, thinner, stronger finished part.
   
   

3. Cost Efficient – PP becomes the lowest cost polymer after prices are adjusted for density. The increased yield helps with the bottom line too!

4. Versatile Temperature Range – PP packages can be put in the microwave, freezer and anywhere in between without compromising the integrity of the package.

5. Sustainable – Lighter products result in lower fuel consumption and lower emissions, and lower density results in less solid waste by weight than PET, PS or PVC.

6. High Heat Resistance – PP products can safely undergo high heat without having to worry about chemical leaching or taste and odor issues, making them compatible for microwave applications, hot-fill processes, or even a hot car in the sun!

7. Durable – PP performs better in drop tests when compared to PET and has a high impact strength.

8. High Clarity – You heard it right! Now with UltraClear PP you can take advantage of all of these great features without having to sacrifice aesthetics and consumer appeal.

9. Trendy – A trendy plastic? Research shows that consumers are trending towards clear packaging that is functional, durable, resealable, and reheatable. In addition, consumers, especially millenials, also care deeply about the sustainability and recyclability of the plastic they use; and with UltraClear PP you check all the boxes.

10. Recyclable – PP is the most widely accepted material for recycling and research shows that outside of PET bottles, PP is the most widely recycled non-bottle rigid plastic material.

Like what you hear? There’s more where that came from. To learn more about the facts about the material efficiencies of Polypropylene sheet and UltraClear Polypropylene sheet, download our case study!