--- title: "Plastic Films: Solvent-Recycling Solutions" id: "4290" type: "post" slug: "plastic-films-solvent-recycling-solutions" published_at: "2024-04-13T18:36:23+00:00" modified_at: "2024-04-05T18:39:24+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/04/plastic-films-solvent-recycling-solutions-004290/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2024/04/plastic-films-solvent-recycling-solutions-004290.md" excerpt: "Recycling plastic films through Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP) is crucial for environmental sustainability since packaging commonly uses these materials. While experts are testing pioneering methods, scaling these techniques remains a challenge." taxonomy_category: - "Blow Molding" - "Business" - "Cast Film/Sheet" - "Circular Economy" - "Decorating & Coatings" - "Design" - "Film" - "Flexible Packaging" - "Food Packaging" - "Industry" - "Materials" - "Packaging" - "People" - "Process" - "Recycling" - "Strategy" - "Sustainability" - "Thermoplastics" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Flexible Packaging" - "PE Film Recycling" - "Recycling Multi-Layer Films" - "Solvent Recycling" - "Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation" - "STRAP" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » Plastic Films: Solvent-Recycling Solutions # Plastic Films: Solvent-Recycling Solutions Flexible plastics rank as the most widely used material for packaging worldwide, accounting for 25.5% of usage (Statista, 2019).### Recycling plastic films through Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP) is crucial for environmental sustainability since packaging commonly uses these materials. While experts are testing pioneering methods, scaling these techniques remains a challenge. ## **Recycling Multi-Layer Films** The STRAP technology emerges as a promising solution for recycling complex multilayer plastic films. It demands a thorough analysis of scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impacts. Layering various plastics creates stronger, impermeable materials with unique features that preserve food quality and extend its lifespan. This multilayer packaging approach reduces the need for materials, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. It also minimizes food waste by enabling more efficient consumption through smaller, portioned packaging. Single-layer plastics cannot match the benefits of these multilayer films. However, the chemical incompatibility of the different layers poses challenges to easy mechanical recycling of multilayer plastics. These films often end up in landfills or are incinerated, contributing to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing the urgent need for innovative recycling solutions, researchers have developed STRAP technology as a novel method to address this challenge. **You can also read:** [Flexible and Recyclable: Monomaterial Packaging Meets Sustainability Needs](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/05/flexible-and-recyclable-monomaterial-packaging-meets-sustainability-needs-000295/) Layering various plastics creates stronger, impermeable materials with unique features that preserve food quality and extend its lifespan. Courtesy of [CUWP.](https://cuwp.org/) ## **STRAP: A Solvent Approach** STRAP processes multilayer films with solvents, separating them into their plastic resins for recovery and reuse. This method recycles plastics previously deemed non-recyclable and upcycles them into more valuable products. Its ability to recover pure plastic resins from mixed waste, including disposable face masks and other contaminants, is particularly significant. ## **Scalability is the Key** STRAP’s scalability is appealing. Initial tests show its capability to produce recycled resins on a commercial scale. By creating a process development unit for large-scale resin production, STRAP moves closer to commercial viability. Its environmental benefits, like lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin polymers, highlight its sustainability potential. Economically, STRAP produces high-quality resins at competitive costs, based on process models and experimental data. This cost-effectiveness, coupled with environmental advantages, makes STRAP a sustainable recycling alternative. The launch of the first commercial STRAP plant in Wisconsin, a key player in the flexible packaging and plastics industry, is a major step toward sustainable plastic recycling. Supported by the local industry and academic institutions, this project aims to reduce plastic waste and promote circular economy principles. STRAP technology’s introduction marks a major advancement in recycling multilayer plastic films. With its scalability, economic viability, and environmental benefits, STRAP is set to transform the plastics recycling industry and push us toward a more sustainable future. By **[Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/)** | April 13, 2024 [https://www.plasticsengineering.org](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) ##### [Juliana Montoya](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/jmontoyaplasticsengineering-org/) [Website](https://www.plasticsengineering.org) | [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [May 4, 2026Why Your Feeder Choice Is Quietly Undermining Consistency](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/why-your-feeder-choice-is-quietly-undermining-consistency-011175/) [May 13, 2026The Logistics Challenge of Scaling Mechanical Recycling](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/the-logistics-challenge-of-scaling-mechanical-recycling-011251/) [April 29, 2026Renewable Functional Coatings for Advanced Applications](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/renewable-functional-coatings-for-advanced-applications-011134/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) [May 14, 2026Carbon Fiber Production from End-of-Life Automotive Polymers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/carbon-fiber-production-from-end-of-life-automotive-polymers-011254/) [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [April 22, 2026Beyond Flaps: How Composite Skins Enable Morphing Wing Design](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/beyond-flaps-how-composite-skins-enable-morphing-wing-design-010950/) [May 1, 2026High-Viscosity Photopolymers Transform Additive Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/high-viscosity-photopolymers-transform-additive-manufacturing-011153/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2024/04/plastic-films-solvent-recycling-solutions-004290/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&text=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&text=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&t=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&t=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&title=Plastic%20Films:%20Solvent-Recycling%20Solutions&summary=Recycling+plastic+films+through+Solvent-Targeted+Recovery+and+Precipitation+%28STRAP%29+is+crucial+for+environmental+sustainability+since+packaging+commonly+uses+these+materials.+While+experts+are+testing+pioneering+methods%2C+scaling+these+techniques+remains+a+challenge.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&title=Plastic%20Films:%20Solvent-Recycling%20Solutions&summary=Recycling+plastic+films+through+Solvent-Targeted+Recovery+and+Precipitation+%28STRAP%29+is+crucial+for+environmental+sustainability+since+packaging+commonly+uses+these+materials.+While+experts+are+testing+pioneering+methods%2C+scaling+these+techniques+remains+a+challenge.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&title=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=4290&title=Plastic+Films%3A+Solvent-Recycling+Solutions) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e216d6b7c747b7d6a234e727f6d6a777d6d3e5b707977707b7b6c7770793e333e4e727f6d6a777d3e587772736d243e4d7172687b706a334c7b7d677d727770793e4d71726b6a7771706d387c717a6723766a6a6e6d243131696969306e727f6d6a777d6d7b707977707b7b6c77707930716c7931216e232a2c272e](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e216d6b7c747b7d6a234e727f6d6a777d6d3e5b707977707b7b6c7770793e333e4e727f6d6a777d3e587772736d243e4d7172687b706a334c7b7d677d727770793e4d71726b6a7771706d387c717a6723766a6a6e6d243131696969306e727f6d6a777d6d7b707977707b7b6c77707930716c7931216e232a2c272e) - [#comments](#comments)