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Is Cellophane Recyclable? Unwrapping the Myth

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Amidst the million types of plastic and packaging options sits a useful wrapping material called cellophane. You’ve probably heard of it before.

But is cellophane recyclable? 

In this guide we’re going to find out what cellophane is all about, and whether it should be part of your eco lifestyle (or avoided at all costs). 

You might be surprised by what you find out!

What is Cellophane?

cellophane wedding wrap

To most people, cellophane is a moisture-proof plastic wrap that’s useful for all kinds of things. You might find it in the supermarket, wrapped around vegetables, or part of a floral bouquet. 

Like bubble wrap, it’s an incredibly popular and useful material to use (but way less satisfying to pop).

Now, here’s the really interesting thing. Cellophane is made from cellulose, AKA plant matter. Wood pulp and plant materials are processed into a flexible, clear “plastic-like” material. It’s great for wrapping foods in.

But there are a few distinctions you should know about:

  • Uncoated cellulose film – made of organic matter, it’s moisture-proof but not water-proof.
  • Coated cellulose film – made of organic matter but coated in chemicals and plastic to improve flexibility, water-resistance, and longevity.
  • Polypropylene film – a plastic made from petroleum, not organic materials. Often mixed up with cellulose-made cellophane as they are identical to the naked eye!

Cellophane has become the blanket term for any plastic-like material that’s used for wrapping, whether it’s made from organic material or petroleum hydrocarbons. And this makes it really difficult to sort.

A note about cling film: the handy kitchen wrap that you use for lunchboxes or reheating leftovers, is not cellophane. It’s made from plastic – sometimes even containing PVC. Thankfully, we have a Guide to Eco-Friendly Cling Film Alternatives.

So, is Cellophane Eco-Friendly?

First of all, whether it’s eco-friendly, biodegradable, or recyclable, it should still only be used when essential. This is the key to reducing waste – don’t buy things you don’t need! We have a list of eco packaging materials at the end of this article, by the way.

Back to the question – is cellophane eco-friendly?

The answer is both yes and no.

YES

  • Made from organic matter (therefore sustainable),
  • Both coated and uncoated will biodegrade,
  • Polypropylene film can be recycled,
  • Polypropylene won’t leach chemicals if it does end up in landfill (it remains inert).

NO

  • Could contribute to deforestation,
  • To process cellulose, energy and chemicals are needed (including bleaching),
  • Breaking down the cellulose in baths to create the wrap contributes to water pollution,
  • Coated cellulose film takes 4 months to biodegrade (uncoated takes just 2),
  • Many products labelled as “cellophane” are actually petroleum-based plastics.

So, a true cellophane wrap (coated or uncoated), will biodegrade in your garden and return to the earth. It’s what we call a bioplastic.

Other cellophane products that are made from polypropylene won’t biodegrade, but they can be recycled at the end of their life.

Coated cellophane and polypropylene are the most common and useful, as they’re waterproof. This is especially important for packaging foods, like meat, where hygiene is essential too.

Why You Can’t Recycle Cellophane

Whether you’re in the UK or not, you just cannot take true cellophane to recycling facilities. It’s like trying to recycle vegetable peels!

As cellophane biodegrades so quickly and easily, there’s not much point recycling it. Just follow the instructions below under ‘How to Compost Cellophane.’

Why You Can Recycle Polypropylene

looms polypropylene

On the other hand, however, recycling centres may accept your petroleum-based cellophane – polypropylene (often shortened to PP). The recycling process for polypropylene includes collecting and sorting the cellophane, cleaning it to remove contaminants, then melting it down. The melted polypropylene is made into pellets that are then sold or stored until they’re ready to be used.

To make something new with polypropylene, the pellets are simply melted down and moulded again.

Recycling polypropylene uses quite a lot of energy – the polypropylene must be heated to 2400°C – so it really should be a last case scenario. 

How to Compost Cellophane

First of all, you should check the supermarket hasn’t labelled polypropylene as cellophane. Read the packaging carefully and look at the labels.

We hate greenwashing (learn how to spot it in our Greenwashing Guide). But in this case, the fact that eco-companies are so eager to label their packaging as plastic-free, works in your favour. It should be easy to tell whether you’re dealing with cellophane that needs to be biodegraded or recycled.

One good example is Teapigs. Their plastic packaging article tells you that the clear film in their tea boxes is made from biodegradable cellophane and their tea pyramid material is made from cornstarch!

When you want to compost your cellophane:

  1. Separate it from the other packaging,
  2. Wash off any glue or residue that won’t biodegrade,
  3. Cut each sheet into a smaller size,
  4. Add these small sheets to your compost heap along with plenty of other biodegradable items (food waste, for example),
  5. Let mother nature get to work!

If you don’t have a compost heap or compost bin, you can actually dig a hole and bury the cellophane instead. Cool, right?

Alternative Eco Packaging Options

Now that you’re a little wiser about cellophane packaging options, you’ve probably figured out that even the most eco-friendly packaging materials have a catch.

The goal is to minimise your impact on the plant as much as possible… and that often means avoiding packaging altogether.

For example, paper and cardboard might be biodegradable materials, but so is cotton and canvas. The difference is, a paper shopping bag lasts one trip to the supermarket, while a canvas one could last years.

Another way to remove packaging altogether is to take your own food containers to the market, so you don’t need their plastic packaging at all.

On that note, have you checked our Guide to Loose Food Shops in the UK? It’s the easiest way to find your nearest zero-waste store and go packaging-free!

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Jonathan Davies

Jonathan Davies

Content manager @ beeco. Raised in the countryside, you can find me near water, whatever the weather.
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