How Floatable Shrink Label Film Optimizes PET Recycling

PET recycling has emerged as the primary focus of brands, governments and recycling plants. Nevertheless, despite proper collection of PET bottles, the efficiency of the recycling process may decline drastically in case the label material is contaminated by the process. A number of sleeve labels that are old tend to sink in water and blend with PET flakes, forming impurities that lower the quality of the recycled output.

This is where floatable shrink label film makes a measurable difference. Unlike standard shrink label film, floatable materials are engineered to separate easily during recycling, helping plants produce cleaner rPET and reduce processing losses. This article explains the separation principle, the recycling process, key advantages, real-world plant impact, and common problems with practical solutions. Read on to learn more.

Separation Principle of Floatable Shrink Label Film

The separation principle behind floatable shrink sleeve film is simple but highly effective. It is designed with a density lower than water. That means when PET bottles enter the hot washing stage, the label film naturally floats while PET flakes sink. This difference in density is what makes floatable films so valuable in PET recycling systems.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• PET material has a higher density than water, so once bottles are shredded, PET flakes typically sink in float-sink tanks.
• Traditional shrink sleeve materials like PVC and standard PETG often sink as well.
• This creates a sorting problem because PET flakes and label flakes end up mixed together.
  
  

With floatable films, the recycling process becomes cleaner and more efficient. The label fragments rise to the surface and form a floating layer. Recycling plants can skim them off quickly, improving PET purity without adding heavy extra sorting steps. In short, eco-friendly shrink film supports recycling through real material behavior during separation, not just sustainability claims.

Separation Process of Floatable Shrink Film

The separation process follows a controlled sequence designed to remove labels and contaminants while protecting PET flake quality.

✔Hot Washing and Label Release

The first step is hot washing. PET bottles are shredded into flakes and washed in heated water with detergents to remove dirt, oils, and residue. Heat also helps loosen sleeve labels so the film can detach from the PET surface. If labels fail to release properly, contamination increases, which is why film design and adhesive compatibility matter.

✔Float-Sink Separation of Film and PET Flakes

After washing, the flakes enter a float-sink tank. This is where floatable films provide the biggest advantage:

• PET flakes sink due to higher density
• Label flakes float to the surface
• Other lightweight contaminants can also be removed

This step is efficient because it relies on density separation instead of complex equipment. Plants can skim off floating label material quickly, improving PET purity.

✔Collection and Final Sorting Output

Next, PET flakes are rinsed and dried. Many facilities also use optical sorting or air classification to remove remaining impurities. Clean PET flakes can then be processed into pellets for reuse. When label material contaminates the PET stream, recycled output may become cloudy or downgraded. Floatable films reduce this risk by improving separation early in the process.

Advantages of Floatable Shrink Label Film in PET Recycling

The benefits of floatable films go beyond basic separation. They improve the entire recycling workflow.

Key advantages include:

• Higher PET flake purity, which increases recycled material value
• Reduced contamination levels, especially from label fragments
• Better processing efficiency, with fewer sorting losses
• Lower operational pressure, because separation becomes easier
• Improved rPET quality, making it suitable for higher-grade reuse

Another major advantage is that floatable materials help reduce the risk of rejected batches. Recycling plants often reject or downgrade PET output if contamination exceeds acceptable limits. Using eco friendly shrink film improves consistency and reduces this risk.

These benefits are important to brands dedicated to sustainability. Increased recyclability will result in an enhanced recycling cycle and an improved environmental profile of PET packaging.

Impact of Floatable Shrink Film on Recycling Plants

For recycling plants, time and purity directly impact profit. Every extra sorting step adds cost, and every contaminated batch lowers the value of recycled PET. Using floatable shrink sleeve film improves plant efficiency in several ways.

Label flakes float naturally, which speeds up separation and reduces the need for additional sorting. This reduces energy consumption and workforce. It also enhances purity of the flakes of PET and enables the flake plants to produce high value rPET to sell to those who are sensitive to quality.

Meanwhile, less contamination contributes to a smoother operation of equipment, decreases the filter clogging and downtime of the maintenance. Among the high-volume recyclers, the benefits will provide a more steady operation and increased profitability in the long run.

Floatable Shrink Label Film vs Traditional Recycling Methods

Old recycling techniques usually depend on further sorting machinery to cover the contamination of labels. That is the manual sorting, optical separation and long washing. These measures make it more expensive and even fail to remove all impurities.

Floatable films make the process simpler. They support automatic separation during float-sink stages, reducing reliance on extra processing.

Both methods can produce recycled PET, but the difference is output quality and cost. When labels separate cleanly, recycling becomes more profitable and scalable.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with floatable films, recycling performance depends on proper processing conditions. Some issues can still occur if systems are not optimized.

◆Poor Separation Results

Sometimes label flakes do not separate properly. This often happens when labels fail to detach during washing or when float-sink separation is inefficient.

Solutions include:

• Maintain correct hot wash temperature
• Use suitable detergents for label release
• Confirm the film density remains below water
• Improve agitation and washing cycle timing

◆Ink and Adhesive Contamination

Ink and adhesive residue can affect PET quality if they stick to flakes or bleed during washing. Some adhesive systems are not designed for recycling conditions.

Solutions include:

• Use recycling-friendly inks and adhesives
• Avoid overly strong adhesive coatings
• Test sleeve labels under hot-wash conditions
• Work with suppliers focused on recycling compatibility

◆Process Temperature and Equipment Issues

If the temperature is too low, labels may not be released. If too high, the film may soften and clump. Poor filtration or worn separation equipment can also reduce efficiency.

Solutions include:

• Keep hot wash temperatures stable
• Monitor float-sink tank performance regularly
• Clean filters and tanks on schedule
• Upgrade equipment when contamination increases

Proper process control ensures floatable shrink film delivers its full recycling benefits.

Conclusion

PET recycling is effective when packaging materials are created to be easily separated and not just to look good on the shelf. Floatable shrink label film is used to enable labels to be separated in hot washing so that they do not contaminate PET flakes and enhance the purity of rPET.

This not only allows recycling plants to produce more useful recycled materials but also allows brands to be more sustainable not just in principle but in practice. In order to achieve some reliable results, you are recommended to work with a supplier who is aware of producing shrink sleeves and compatibility with recycling.

DGN Film focuses on floatable shrink films that can be used to achieve stable shrink behavior, good print quality and separation of float and sink. Consider the floatable shrink film solutions of DGN Film to enhance the efficiency of recycling of PET in your business. Contact us for specifications or samples to identify the appropriate solution to your packaging or recycling solutions.

FAQs

Question 1. How does floatable shrink label film improve PET flake purity?

Answer: It floats during the wash process, allowing easy separation from PET flakes and reducing label contamination in the PET stream.

Question 2. What are the main causes of separation failure during PET recycling?

Answer: Common causes include poor hot wash conditions, incorrect film density, strong adhesives, and inefficient float-sink separation equipment.

Question 3. Can floatable shrink label film reduce operational costs for recycling plants?

Answer: Yes. It reduces sorting time, improves processing efficiency, lowers contamination losses, and increases the value of recycled PET output.