Polyester packaging film
PET packaging film for carton windows, lidding and sealing.
Polyester film keeps food and retail products visible, protected and fresh. We supply PET films for carton windows, lidding, top sealing and barrier laminates, and convert them to the reel width or window size your machines need.
- Producing packaging film since
- 1980
- Post-consumer recycled content options
- Up to 90%
Why PET for packaging
Why packaging designers choose polyester film.
PET combines crystal clarity with strength in thin gauges, so a window or lid can show the product at its best without adding weight. It stays stable across a wide temperature range, from the freezer to the oven in the right grades, and offers a good barrier to aromas and greases.
It also converts and runs well. Polyester film slits cleanly, holds its size when printed or laminated, and feeds reliably on window patching, lidding and form-fill-seal machines. Corona-treated and chemically treated grades accept inks and adhesives, and heat-sealable grades seal to trays and to themselves.
Polyester film gradesApplications
Polyester packaging film applications.
From window patches on cake boxes to peelable lids on ready meals.
- Carton Window Films
Cartons
Carton window film
Crystal-clear PET for window patching on food and retail cartons, cake boxes and lids, sandwich packs and sleeves.
Lidding
Lidding film
Heat-sealable and peelable PET lids for trays, pots and portion packs, including dual-ovenable ready-meal trays.
Sealing
Heat-sealable film
Co-extruded films that seal on one side for top sealing produce packs, flow wrapping and bags.
Fresh food
Anti-fog film
Anti-fog treated film keeps chilled and fresh products visible by stopping condensation forming droplets.
Barrier
Metallised and barrier film
Metallised and PVDC-coated PET for laminates that protect against light, oxygen and moisture.
- Converting
Converted
Cut window patches and blanks
Film slit to reel widths for patching machines, or die cut, sheeted and guillotined into blanks.
Choosing a grade
Choosing a polyester packaging film.
Start with what the pack has to do. The table matches common packaging requirements to the polyester film feature that delivers them. Any of these films can be slit to reel width or cut into window patches.
Packaging requirement to film feature
| You need | Choose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The product clearly on show | Clear or crystal-clear PET | Low haze, high gloss |
| A window that glues well | Corona-treated or chemically treated PET | Better adhesion for window patching glues and print |
| A lid that seals to a tray | Heat-sealable PET | Co-extruded sealing layer |
| A lid that peels cleanly | Peelable lidding PET | Easy-open trays and pots |
| No condensation on chilled food | Anti-fog PET | Keeps fresh produce visible |
| A barrier to light, oxygen or moisture | Metallised or PVDC-coated PET | Usually as part of a laminate |
| Freezer to oven performance | Polyester grades rated for the temperature | Check the grade's data sheet for ovenable use |
| Recycled content | PET with 30%, 60% or up to 90% PCR content | Same clarity and strength as virgin film |
| A compostable option | Enviromex® films | See Carton Window Films |
- The product clearly on show
- Clear or crystal-clear PET
- Notes: Low haze, high gloss
- A window that glues well
- Corona-treated or chemically treated PET
- Notes: Better adhesion for window patching glues and print
- A lid that seals to a tray
- Heat-sealable PET
- Notes: Co-extruded sealing layer
- A lid that peels cleanly
- Peelable lidding PET
- Notes: Easy-open trays and pots
- No condensation on chilled food
- Anti-fog PET
- Notes: Keeps fresh produce visible
- A barrier to light, oxygen or moisture
- Metallised or PVDC-coated PET
- Notes: Usually as part of a laminate
- Freezer to oven performance
- Polyester grades rated for the temperature
- Notes: Check the grade's data sheet for ovenable use
- Recycled content
- PET with 30%, 60% or up to 90% PCR content
- Notes: Same clarity and strength as virgin film
- A compostable option
- Enviromex® films
- Notes: See Carton Window Films
Food contact: ask for the declaration of compliance for your grade and use.
Sustainability and food safety
Recycled content, recyclable packs and food safety.
PET is one of the most widely recycled packaging plastics, and our films help brands cut virgin plastic without losing clarity or strength.
- 30%
- Post-consumer recycled content
- 60%
- Higher PCR option
- 90%
- Highest PCR option, where required
With the same clarity, strength and reliability as virgin material.
Recycled-content PET
Carton window films with 30% post-consumer recycled content, increasing to 60% or 90% where required.
Biodegradable options
Our Enviromex® range includes biodegradable films for brands that need them.
BRCGS certified
We are BRCGS Packaging Materials certified, supplying films across the packaging and films sector.
Packaging film FAQs
PET packaging film questions, answered.
Can't find what you need? Our technical team is happy to help.
What is carton window film?
Carton window film is a clear plastic film glued over a cut-out in a carton so the product can be seen. Polyester (PET) is widely used because it is crystal clear, stiff enough to stay flat and strong in thin gauges.
Is PET carton window film recyclable?
PET is recyclable where collection exists, and our carton window films are available with 30%, 60% or up to 90% post-consumer recycled content.
What thickness of film is used for carton windows?
It depends on the window size, the carton board and the patching machine. Larger windows and heavier cartons need a stiffer, thicker film. Tell us your carton and machine and we will recommend a thickness.
How much packaging film do I need?
Our film calculator works out the area and weight from the thickness and size, how many window patches or sheets you get from a kilogram, and the length of film on a reel from its diameter. Send us the figures and we will confirm them for your film.
Is polyester packaging film microwaveable and ovenable?
Polyester is one of the few packaging films suitable for microwave and oven use, in grades made for it. Ovenable lidding, for example for dual-ovenable ready-meal trays, needs a grade rated for the temperature, so ask us for the data sheet.
What is the difference between heat-sealable and peelable lidding film?
Both seal to the tray. A heat-sealable film forms a strong seal, while a peelable film is designed to peel away cleanly in one piece so the consumer can open the pack easily.
What is anti-fog film?
Anti-fog film has a coating that makes condensation spread into a clear, even layer instead of forming droplets, so chilled and fresh products stay visible on the shelf.
Are your packaging films food approved?
Our films for food packaging are supplied under our BRCGS Packaging Materials certification. Ask for the declaration of compliance for your grade and intended use.
Specifying a window or lidding film?
Tell us about your pack, your machine and your sustainability goals, and we will recommend a film.
Polyester film
More on polyester film
- Read more
Overview
Polyester (PET) film
Grades, converting, applications and quality in one place.
- Read more
Converting
Slitting and sheeting
Slit reels, sheets, cores, die-cut parts and corona treatment.
- Read more
Specifying
Film grades and finishes
Clear, matt, white, metallised, treated and speciality grades.
- Read more
Conservation
Archival and conservation
Inert polyester for encapsulation, sleeves and storage.
- Read more
Electrical
Electrical insulation
Motor, transformer, cable, battery and electronics insulation.
- Read more
Print
Graphics, labels and print
Print-receptive, white, matt and display films.
- Read more
Industrial
Industrial and medical
Release liners, visors, shims, spacers and device parts.
