BOPP or PE films Australia is a common comparison for manufacturers choosing the right packaging material for performance, presentation, and sustainability.
In the dynamic world of Australian manufacturing and retail, the choice of packaging film is a critical decision. It influences shelf appeal, product protection, supply chain efficiency, and environmental compliance.
At MPI Australia, we understand that selecting the right polymer, such as Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) or Polyethylene (PE)—is essential to optimizing packaging performance. While both materials are highly versatile, their unique characteristics make them better suited to different applications.
Below is a practical breakdown to help businesses make informed packaging decisions.
BOPP film is manufactured by stretching polypropylene resin in both the machine (lengthwise) and transverse (crosswise) directions. This biaxial orientation gives the film its strength, clarity, and performance advantages.
Key advantages of BOPP:
- Exceptional clarity and gloss, making it ideal for premium product presentation and visibility, particularly for confectionery, snacks, bakery items, and fresh produce
- Excellent moisture barrier properties that help preserve freshness and extend shelf life
- High tensile strength and stiffness, ensuring pack integrity during high-speed packaging, handling, and distribution
- Cost-effective performance with faster heat-sealing cycles due to a lower melting point, supporting higher line efficiency
- Superior printability, allowing for vibrant, high-quality graphics and branding
Common applications in Australia:
- Flow-wrap packaging for biscuits, chips, and snacks
- Overwrapping for cartons and boxes
- Labels and tape applications
- Fresh produce packaging, including anti-fog grades
2. Polyethylene (PE) Film (LDPE / LLDPE)
Polyethylene film—particularly LDPE and LLDPE—is widely regarded as the workhorse of flexible packaging. It is valued for its flexibility, toughness, and reliable sealing performance.
Key advantages of PE:
- Superior seal integrity, producing strong, reliable, and often tamper-evident seals critical for food safety and product protection
- High flexibility and puncture resistance, making it suitable for heavier or irregularly shaped products and rugged packaging formats
- Excellent performance in cold environments, maintaining strength and flexibility for frozen and low-temperature applications
- Versatility across a wide range of thicknesses and formats, including heavy-duty sacks, stretch and shrink films, and liner bags
- Recyclability support, with mono-material LDPE often recyclable through Australian store drop-off soft plastics programs (RIC4)
Common applications in Australia (often through MPI Australia’s automated bagging systems):
- Standard poly bags and SidePouch® bags for retail, industrial, hardware, and e-commerce goods
- Frozen food packaging
- Shrink films for bundling and transit protection
- Laminations, where PE is used as the sealant layer in multi-layer structures
The MPI Australia Difference: Choosing the Right Film
For Australian businesses, choosing between BOPP and PE often comes down to balancing product requirements with operational efficiency and sustainability goals.
| Feature |
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene) |
PE (Polyethylene – LDPE / LLDPE) |
| Primary Benefit |
Clarity, presentation, moisture barrier |
Strength, seal integrity, flexibility |
| Aesthetics |
High-gloss, high-clarity |
Typically less clear (milky), high-clarity options available |
| Barrier Properties |
Excellent moisture barrier |
Good moisture barrier |
| Toughness |
High tensile strength, stiffer |
Superior tear and puncture resistance, flexible |
| Sealing Speed |
Faster, lower-temperature sealing |
Slower, stronger, more reliable seals |
| Ideal Applications |
Snacks, confectionery, overwraps, labels |
Industrial goods, mailers, frozen food, automated bagging, heavy-duty packaging |
| Australian Recycling |
Part of mono-material PP soft plastic stream |
Widely recyclable via store drop-off (RIC4) programs |
MPI Australia offers both BOPP and PE films—plain, printed, and specialty grades—engineered to run seamlessly on our range of state-of-the-art packaging machinery. Whether your operation requires the high-speed presentation of BOPP flow-wrap or the rugged protection of PE poly bags, we provide film solutions aligned with your machinery and application needs.
Ready to discuss the best film for your product and machinery?
Contact the MPI Australia team for expert advice on material selection, custom printing options, and packaging solutions aligned with current Australian sustainability guidelines.
🌐 www.mpiaust.com.au
📞 (02) 9648 3011
