April 24, 2025 – A significant breakthrough has occurred in the packaging materials sector. Toyobo Co., Ltd.’s PET heat – shrinkable label film “SC836 – 20” has recently received the “APR Design® for Recyclability” certification from the American Plastics Council for Recycling (APR), thanks to its outstanding performance. As the world’s thinnest PET heat – shrinkable label film, with a thickness of just 20 micrometers, it not only reduces plastic usage but also achieves excellent recyclability, setting a new industry benchmark.
Heat – shrinkable labels, which can closely conform to various containers, are a common packaging form for PET beverage bottles and other products. Toyobo has long been deeply involved in this field. As early as 2012, the company disrupted the industry by introducing a 20 – micrometer – thick PET label film, breaking the then – prevalent market standard of 40 – 45 micrometers. The newly launched “SC836 – 20” represents an upgrade in technology. Through innovative raw material blending and film – forming processes, it not only maintains product performance stability but also significantly improves recycling rates. According to AsiaMB, third – party test data shows that “SC836 – 20” has successfully passed APR’s “Critical Guidance Pathway” tests. Without interfering with the PET bottle flake recycling process, it meets and even exceeds APR’s voluntary recyclability design standards.
Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent global environmental policies, especially the tightening controls on traditional plastic materials in Europe, Toyobo’s “SC836 – 20” proactively avoids restricted components, preparing for global product promotion. In addition, Toyobo has also introduced a series of environmentally friendly film products, such as “ReCrysta™” and “CYCLE CLEAN®”. Among them, “CYCLE CLEAN®”, with a thickness of only 12 micrometers and containing 80% recycled materials, has set a new industry record for recycled content. Toyobo has stated that it will accelerate the global roll – out of “SC836 – 20”, continue to build a green material system through technological innovation, actively promote the “bottle – to – bottle” recycling model, and fulfill its corporate responsibilities in environmental protection and sustainable industry development.