In particular, visitors to the bpi.films’ stand (Stand No. 331) will be able to find out more about the manufacturer’s recently extended range of Wrapsmart pallet stretchwrap. The business introduced three new products under this brand in late 2009 - each targeting a different market sector and all benefitting from downgauged profiles.

The first of the new films, WrapsmartBlue, is actually designed for use with food products and employs a distinctive blue tint to aid identification and help minimise accidental food contamination.

The second, WrapsmartBlack, benefits from a black tint and enables loads such as those containing a particular product line, of an urgent nature or destined for a certain location to be colour coded for instant recognition. It can also help disguise valuable pallet contents and make loads tamper evident.

And the third, WrapsmartSubzero, has been specifically created to meet the challenging demands of chilled distribution and storage. Thanks to its unique formulation, this film can be used for sustained periods at temperatures down to -25°C and without any loss of performance - a criticism frequently levelled at many similar products destined for cold chain use.

All three of the new Wrapsmart films build on the success of the manufacturer’s existing Wrapsmartultra product, which is now being used internationally and by major names in both retailing and logistics. The new additions draw on the same advanced polymer science and extrusion technology as Wrapsmartultra to offer the performance of a 14 micron (mµ) film but from a considerably thinner gauge. In fact, WrapsmartBlue and WrapsmartSubzero are just 7mµ thick, whilst WrapsmartBlack is 9mµ thick.

The ultimate result of this downgauging is that less film by volume is required to wrap a given load and so less packaging waste is created. Plus, this reduced waste can even be reprocessed rather than sent to landfill as all of the Wrapsmart films are 100% recyclable.

In addition, the thinner gauge of the new Wrapsmart products means more film can be wound onto a standard reel in comparison to a conventional handfilm. This extra length helps to reduce the number of film deliveries required and associated transport emissions. Not only that, but it also provides gains in efficiency. Users can expect to spend less time on ordering film and on dealing with it at goods inward. They can also wrap more pallets with fewer stoppages for reel changes, maximising operator time.

Aside from focusing on the recently extended Wrapsmart range, bpi.films will also use ECOPACK 2010 to promote another new product - Nov8. This innovative shrink film looks set to be especially popular with brewers, soft drink manufacturers and other organisations that employ multi-pack formats thanks to its ability to offer enhanced environmental credentials whilst boosting on-shelf presence.

Like the Wrapsmart products, Nov8 benefits from a downgauged profile enabling it to deliver the performance of a conventional shrink film but from a thinner film thickness. This ensures all the same benefits such as a reduction in the amount of film used and associated waste created, along with the green and operational dividends that come of being able to fit more film onto a standard reel.

However, on top of this, Nov8 also provides other environmental advantages. Most notably, this includes the use of solvent free plate making technology during its production, eliminating ozone damaging volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the process.

Best of all, Nov8’s greener nature doesn’t come at the expense of its aesthetics. Recognising that maximum on-shelf impact is crucial in today’s increasingly competitive retail environments, this new product still offers breathtaking optical properties. It boasts a high gloss finish and can be photo quality printed in up to eight colours for incredible image depth and vibrancy.

Commenting on the new products and the manufacturer’s plans for ECOPACK, Louise Aplin, Marketing Manager at bpi.films, said: “We always look forward to exhibiting at ECOPACK but this year that’s especially true due to the sheer number of greener products we’ve recently introduced.

“Many would have us believe that polythene packaging can’t be environmentally friendly. However, downgauged products like Nov8 and Wrapsmart, which are able to deliver a number of environmental benefits such as a reduction in packaging waste, are showing that polythene has an important role to play in today’s eco-conscious world.”