Everything you need to know about polypropylene

POLYPROPYLENE UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic. It means that this material becomes pliable or modulable at a specific temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Made from a combination of propylene monomers (molecules that can react together), polypropylene is used in various applications, including packaging, graphic applications, plastic parts for the automotive industry and textiles.

Created in 1951, it has become one of the most commonly produced plastics in the world. In 2020, the global market volume of the thermoplastic polymer polypropylene amounted to approximately 74 million metric tons. This figure is forecasted to grow to around 90.7 million metric tons by 2026.

With this kind of volume, it is massively important to know how sustainable this material really is.

Polypropylene's main asset is its weight. Its superior lightweight (compared to similar materials) combined to outstanding impact properties improve handling and storage. That's not all. New generation PP is fully recyclable, many times without any significant change in its physical properties. It can also be used as regrinds without compromising the performance of the resin. Its composition also reveals many advantages: it doesn't contain any halogens or chlorine. It is also free from any plastifiers, such as the notorious phthalates, frequently used in the production of PVC.

In other words, polypropylene has the ability to make a positive impact on the entire value chain of the product, from a more efficient production to low-impact handling.

Compared to a polycarbonate…

Polypropylene offers an approaching clarity while avoiding key drawbacks such as the non-use of bisphenol A (in manufacturing). With its lower density, PP requires approximately 30% less resin than polycarbonate for a given application. What does this imply? Simply a reduced amount of non-renewable resources used in the manufacturing process and a higher recyclability potential.

To make it short, polypropylene's total environmental impact is inferior to equivalent materials in life cycle analysis. 

Polypropylene’s key benefits, in a nutshell

• Lightweight
• Robust
• Efficient production
• PVC-free
• Free from hazardous and harmful substances
• Free from heavy metals

Coala PP Stick has fully encapsulated all these environmental assets: a cutting-edge range of PVC-free polypropylene films for the graphics industry. While offering environmental advantages compared to equivalent plastic solutions, Coala PP Stick guarantees better print quality than PVC.

By combining polypropylene films with water-based adhesives, Coala PP Stick is now able to offer more sustainable products for this rapidly evolving industry. With a 4-year outdoor life expectancy, Coala PP Stick is testament of how more responsible solutions can simultaneously offer higher quality and durability. Coala PP Stick is rated 2 Stars in the Antalis Green Star System^™.

Remember, being responsible is simpler than you might think.

At Antalis, we know how urgent it is to move from fossil-heavy materials to recycled, recyclable and fibre-based solutions. Polypropylene shows how plastic can sometimes be the most pragmatic, eco-responsible and effective alternative currently available for indoor and outdoor visual communication applications. That doesn’t stop our specialists to continue exploring – day in, day out - new alternatives and assist you in an eco-driven transition. For the time being, polypropylene solutions might be some of the best ones out there…