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Japanese plastic film manufacturer, Gunze, has launched an eco-friendly shrink film for automatic sleeve applicators, GeoPlas HCX1. Gunze says GeoPlas HCX1 is the "lightest shrink film for automatic sleeve applicators," – it is a polystyrene/polyethylene terephthalate multi-layered product that uses 5% of chemical recycled raw materials with the ‘mass balance’ approach. The new film can be incorporated globally as shrink labels for PET bottled beverages, foods, cosmetics, home and personal care products and other products. It has the benefits of both polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate, such as excellent shrink appearance, perforation suitability, heat resistance, content resistance and stiffness.

Gunze aims to increase its use of recycled raw materials to 50% by 2024 and to supply products made from 100% recycled raw materials by 2030 through the use of these technologies. The new shrink film will first be launched in Japan and then expanded to the US, China and ASEAN markets.