Plastic Wrap / Stretch Film (LDPE/LLDPE)

Material Composition Assumptions

The default reference product is 1 kg of LDPE or LLDPE blown film (15-100 microns thick), used for:

• Pallet stretch wrap: LLDPE cast or blown film, 17-25 microns. Used to secure pallet loads during shipping.
• Consumer cling wrap: LDPE or PVC film, 8-12 microns. Kitchen food wrap.
• Industrial shrink wrap: LDPE blown film, 50-100 microns. Equipment and pallet protection.

Both LDPE (high-pressure free-radical polymerization) and LLDPE (low-pressure gas-phase or solution process using Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts) are derived from ethylene monomer. LLDPE has slightly lower production energy than LDPE due to lower reactor pressures.

This score covers both pallet stretch film (#39 in the requested list) and general LDPE wrap film, as they use the same resin and film extrusion process.

Manufacturing Geography

PE film production follows ethylene cracker locations:

• USA: Major producer (Dow, ExxonMobil). Cheap ethane from shale gas.
• China: Growing capacity. Naphtha-fed and coal-to-olefins routes.
• Middle East: SABIC, Borouge. Low-cost gas feedstock.
• EU: LyondellBasell, Borealis. Naphtha-based.
• Rationale: Upstream ethylene production is 50% of total emissions. Film extrusion (blown film or cast) adds approximately 0.3-0.5 kgCO2e/kg.

Regional Variation

Production Region	Feedstock	Estimated Score (per kg)	Adjustment
Global average (default)	Mixed	2.0 kgCO2e	Baseline
USA (ethane)	Shale gas	1.6 kgCO2e	-20%
EU (naphtha)	Oil-based	1.8 kgCO2e	-10%
China (naphtha/CTO)	Mixed	2.3 kgCO2e	+15%
Middle East (ethane)	Gas	1.4 kgCO2e	-30%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. EPD for the specific LDPE/LLDPE film product.
2. Feedstock route: Ethane vs. naphtha vs. coal-to-olefins has a major impact.
3. Recycled content: PCR LDPE film is commercially available.
4. Downgauging data: Thinner film (same performance, less material) directly reduces per-use emissions.

Methodology Notes

• CCI score of 2 kgCO2e/kg is a conservative global average. PlasticsEurope reports 1.7-2.1 kgCO2e/kg for resin; film extrusion adds ~0.3 kgCO2e/kg.
• Scope breakdown: Scope 3 at 80% (1.6 kgCO2e/kg) from ethylene production and oil/gas extraction. Scope 2 at 10% (0.2 kgCO2e/kg). Scope 1 at 10% (0.2 kgCO2e/kg).
• Confidence: High — well-documented resin with extensive PlasticsEurope and ACC data.
• Functional unit: 1 kg of LDPE/LLDPE blown film, cradle to gate.
• Included: Resin production, blown film extrusion. Excluded: End-of-life. LDPE film recycling rates are low (~5-10% globally).