Shrink wrap is one of the hardest packaging formats to make sustainable — it’s a thin, clingy plastic film that’s tough to recycle and even harder to replace without losing the tamper-evidence and load-stability it provides. So when a supplier says they sell “biodegradable shrink wrap,” it’s worth pausing before you buy.
The short version: genuinely compostable shrink films do exist now, built from plant-based polymers instead of conventional plastic resin. But the category is also full of vague claims, so this guide breaks down what’s real, what’s marketing, and how to pick a film that will actually behave the way the label suggests.
Quick Answer
Yes — compostable shrink films made from PLA/PBAT blends are commercially available and certified to industrial composting standards like ASTM D6400 (US) and EN 13432 (EU). What doesn’t hold up as well are films marketed simply as “biodegradable” with no certification, since that word alone doesn’t guarantee the film breaks down in any real-world environment within a useful timeframe.
Biodegradable, Compostable, and Oxo-Degradable Are Not the Same Thing
“Biodegradable” just means something will eventually break down through microbial action — it says nothing about how long that takes or under what conditions. A film could technically be biodegradable and still take decades to disappear in a landfill, where oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity are all limited.
“Compostable” is the more meaningful claim because it’s tied to certification standards with defined timelines. In the US, ASTM D6400 requires at least 90% of the material to convert to CO2 within 180 days under industrial composting conditions, and BPI certification confirms a product meets that bar. In Europe, EN 13432 and TÜV Austria’s OK Compost marks serve the same purpose. Crucially, most certified compostable shrink film is rated for industrial composting facilities, not backyard compost bins — TÜV Austria’s separate OK Compost HOME mark is what you’d need for a film that truly breaks down in a home compost pile. TÜV Austria’s OK Compost HOME scheme dates back to 2003, well before Australia’s AS 5810 home-compostability standard existed, and OK Compost HOME’s requirements actually helped form the basis for AS 5810 — not the other way around.
“Oxo-degradable” film is a different, more controversial category: conventional plastic with an additive meant to help it fragment faster. The EU banned oxo-degradable plastics under its 2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive because the film fragments into microplastics rather than fully biodegrading, and regulators and researchers have flagged the compostable/biodegradable marketing around it as misleading. If a shrink film’s sustainability pitch centers on an additive that helps it “break apart” rather than a certified compostable resin, treat that as a red flag.
What’s Actually on the Market Right Now
Compostable shrink film today is mostly made from blends of PLA (polylactic acid, typically derived from corn or sugarcane starch) and PBAT (a biodegradable polyester), which together give the film enough clarity, strength, and shrink performance to compete with conventional polyolefin (POF) or PVC shrink wrap. Suppliers like NUREL (INZEA), Cortec (EcoShrink), and Treetop Biopak (Terra) sell PLA/PBAT shrink films certified to industrial composting standards.
Separately, some manufacturers sell films marketed as “landfill-biodegradable” — conventional-feeling shrink film with a proprietary additive designed to help it break down faster once buried in an anaerobic landfill environment, rather than being compostable in the traditional sense. That’s a genuinely different value proposition than compost-certified film, and it’s worth asking a supplier directly which category their product falls into and what certification (if any) backs the claim.
If compostability isn’t the goal, there are two other paths worth considering: fully recyclable polyolefin (POF) film, which has replaced much of the PVC shrink wrap market and avoids the chlorine and off-gassing issues of PVC, and shrink film made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, which reduces virgin plastic use without changing how the film is disposed of. For bundling rather than tight-seal wrapping, curbside-recyclable paper wraps (like Smurfit Kappa’s CanopyWrap) are also displacing shrink film in some retail and shipping applications.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Don’t take “biodegradable” on a spec sheet at face value — ask for the specific certification (BPI, TÜV Austria, EN 13432/ASTM D6400 test reports) and check whether it’s rated for industrial composting, home composting, or neither.
Confirm your customers or facility actually have access to industrial composting before you market a product as compostable — a certified compostable wrapper that ends up in a landfill or a recycling bin won’t behave any differently than conventional plastic, and may contaminate recycling streams if mixed in.
Expect a cost premium over conventional PE or PVC shrink film, and budget time to test shrink temperature and seal settings on your existing equipment — compostable resins don’t always run identically to petroleum-based film on the same machinery.
Be skeptical of “biodegradable” claims with no third-party certification attached, especially additive-based products claiming to make ordinary plastic break down faster — this is the area regulators have most closely associated with greenwashing.
Explore more: more sustainable packaging guides.
Biodegradable shrink wrap FAQs
Is biodegradable shrink wrap the same as compostable shrink wrap?
No. Biodegradable only means it will eventually break down, with no guaranteed timeline or conditions. Compostable is a certified claim (ASTM D6400, EN 13432, BPI, TÜV Austria) tied to a specific breakdown timeframe under defined composting conditions.
Will compostable shrink film break down in a landfill or the ocean?
Generally no. Most certified compostable films are designed for industrial composting facilities, which provide heat, moisture, and microbial activity that landfills and oceans don’t. Look specifically for a home-compostable certification (like TÜV Austria’s OK Compost HOME) if that matters for your use case.
Is oxo-degradable shrink wrap a sustainable choice?
No. It’s banned in the EU because it tends to fragment into microplastics rather than fully biodegrading, and regulators have flagged its biodegradable/compostable marketing as misleading.
Does biodegradable or compostable shrink wrap cost more than regular shrink wrap?
Yes, typically. Plant-based compostable resins like PLA/PBAT blends generally cost more than conventional polyolefin or PVC film, though the gap has been narrowing as more manufacturers enter the market.
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Photo by Teslariu Mihai on Unsplash.