These findings are available on request. Plastic films and film products are used extensively in industry, commerce, agriculture and for medical applications but by far the largest usage is in packaging, where they make an essential contribution to food and non-food packing, distribution and retailing. Two-thirds of all plastic packaging is made from plastic sheet or film materials. Plastic films are also used in the home as refuse sacks, bin liners, cling wrapping films, roaster bags and for a range of DIY applications. In all, some one million tonnes of plastic films are used annually in the United Kingdom alone.
Plastic films are lightweight, safe to handle, chemically stable and extremely versatile.
No other forms of packaging use less resources and energy in their manufacture to meet a given specification. They have done so on merit because they bring positive benefits to those who use them. The protective qualities of film packaging can be tailored to provide a range of properties that may include increased shelf life or the elimination of refrigerated storage of certain foods. Major food savings have been made possible by centralised pre-packaging, often with greater variety and convenience to meet the public need and the special demands of smaller family groups, retired persons and those with dietary requirements. As raw materials, they represent less than 2 per cent of total annual oil extraction.