If shrink packaging is a new process for you, trying to decide which product best suits your needs may be a frustrating experience. We hope that this overview of properties, limits and unique benefits will clarify the pros and cons so that you can proceed with confidence - getting into production quickly and satisfactorily.

If you are packaging a food product which will come into direct contact with the shrink film, then the choice is obvious. POF films are approved by the FDA and USDA for direct food contact. PVC films are not.

PVC films can be used to package an outer box where the film does not touch the consumable items directly. A box of candy, for example, can be packaged in PVC shrink film as long as the sweets are enclosed inside of the box with the film providing package security and enhanced appearance for the exterior only. The box provides a layer of protection between the film and the food product. That is the qualifying difference.

PVC offers a more rigid, high gloss and high clarity package which many producers of retail packages prefer. It also shrinks more quickly and evenly than POF films.

POF films require slightly more time and effort to seal and shrink, but they provide a softer feel with good clarity. As mentioned above, they are also safe for direct contact with food products.

Many people who work on the packaging lines prefer POF film for all applications, as it has minimal odor during the sealing and cutting process. Some find that the odor produced when running PVC film packaging lines can be unpleasant or even nauseating. POF does not produce irritating odors.

The subject of this comparison may make your choice a simple one. If you still have questions, however, please let us know. We will be happy to help you choose exactly the right product for your specific requirements and goals.