Are banding and shrink wrap ready for the future?

As packaging legislation becomes stricter and sustainability expectations continue to rise, companies are taking a closer look at the materials and processes they use.

Shrink wrap is still widely used to bundle, seal, and protect products. It creates a tight and secure pack, but it also fully encloses products in plastic, requires heat during application, and can use more packaging material than necessary.

Banding takes a different approach. Instead of covering the entire product or bundle, a narrow paper or film band is applied only where it is needed. The band can secure, bundle, seal, brand, or label a product while keeping most of it visible.

With regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) encouraging companies to reduce unnecessary packaging and improve recyclability, three priorities are becoming increasingly important:

• Efficiency: packaging must do more with less
• Minimalism: unnecessary material should be reduced
• Recyclability: packaging should be easier to sort and recycle

So how do banding and shrink wrap compare when viewed through these three priorities?

Rethinking full product wrapping

Shrink wrap is effective, but it is not always the most efficient way to group or secure products.

The process usually involves covering the entire product or bundle with plastic film and applying heat to shrink the material tightly around it. This provides stability and protection, but it can also create several challenges:

• More packaging material is used than may be necessary
• Heat is required during the packaging process
• The product is fully covered, which can reduce visibility
• The plastic film becomes waste after opening
• Recycling can become more complex, especially when materials are combined

These challenges are leading companies to question whether full product coverage is always necessary, particularly when the main objective is simply to bundle, seal, label, or brand a product.

A smarter alternative

Banding uses a narrow strip of paper or film to hold products together or secure a package.

Rather than enclosing the entire product, the band is applied only around the area needed to create a stable bundle or seal. This allows companies to achieve the required packaging function without adding a full layer of material.

Banding can be used to:

• Bundle multiple products together
• Create retail-ready packs
• Add branding or product information
• Seal packaging in a tamper-evident way
• Reduce the amount of packaging material used
• Keep the product clearly visible

Because one band can perform several functions, companies may also be able to simplify their packaging process and reduce the number of separate packaging components they use.

Minimalism: using material only where it is needed

One of the clearest differences between banding and shrink wrap is the amount of material applied to the product.

Shrink wrap covers the entire bundle. This may be necessary when full enclosure or additional protection is required, but it can be excessive when the main purpose is simply to hold several products together.

Banding follows a more minimal approach. A narrow band is placed around the product or bundle, leaving the majority of the surface uncovered.

This can significantly reduce packaging material while still creating a secure and presentable pack. It also keeps the product clearly visible, which is particularly valuable for food, cosmetics, printed materials, and retail products.

The principle is simple: apply packaging material only where it adds value.

Efficiency: more functions in one band

Shrink-wrapping normally requires plastic film, heat, energy, and sufficient space within the packaging line. Depending on the application, additional labels or printed materials may also be required.

Banding can combine several packaging functions in one step.

A single band can:

• Hold products together
• Create a secure seal
• Carry a brand design
• Display product information
• Include variable printed data

Pre-printed banding material can be used for branding, instructions, promotions, and fixed product information. Variable data such as weight, price, barcodes, batch numbers, or use-by dates can also be printed directly onto the band during application.

This makes it possible to bundle, label, and communicate using a single packaging component instead of applying several separate elements.

Banding machines also work without heat tunnels, helping companies reduce energy use and simplify the packaging environment.

Recyclability: making materials easier to separate

Packaging is increasingly assessed not only by how well it protects the product, but also by what happens after use.

Shrink wrap creates a full layer of plastic film that must be removed, collected, and sorted. When the film is combined with packaging made from another material, the consumer or recycler must separate the different components correctly.

A band covers only a small part of the product and can be removed easily. Companies can also select a banding material that supports the design of the primary packaging.

For example:

• A paper band can be combined with cardboard packaging.
• A recyclable film band can be paired with compatible plastic packaging.
• A removable band can make the different packaging components easier to separate.

The recyclability of any complete pack will always depend on the specific materials, coatings, inks, adhesives, and local recycling infrastructure. However, using fewer materials and making them easier to separate is an important step towards more recyclable packaging.

When is banding a suitable choice?

Banding is particularly suitable when products need to be bundled, labeled, branded, or sealed without being fully enclosed.

Common applications include:

• Food packaging
• Meat and seafood packs
• Ready meals and fresh produce
• Printed materials
• Cosmetics and personal care products
• Pharmaceutical packaging
• Textile and laundry bundles
• Retail-ready packaging
• Multipacks and promotional packs

It can be applied around trays, boxes, sleeves, stacks, tubs, containers, and loose product bundles.

Shrink wrap may remain the right choice when full enclosure, moisture protection, dust protection, or complete surface coverage is essential. The most suitable method therefore depends on the product, supply chain, required protection, and packaging objective.

When full coverage is not needed, banding provides a way to secure and present products with considerably less packaging material.

Smarter packaging starts with less

The future of packaging is moving towards lower material usage, improved recyclability, and more efficient production processes.

That does not mean one packaging method will suit every application. It does mean companies should consider whether every layer and component is genuinely necessary.

Shrink wrap provides reliable full coverage, but it may use more material and energy than required for straightforward bundling or sealing applications.

Banding offers a more focused solution. It applies material only where needed, while providing space for branding, labeling, variable data, and tamper-evident sealing.

Less material. More function.

That is what makes banding a smart and future-ready packaging solution.