PETG vs OPS Shrink Film: Choosing a Shrink Sleeve Material

A damaged slit edge or a mismatched shrink curve can split a sleeve in the tunnel. Compare PETG and OPS by contour fit, conditioned edge handling and applicator trials; neither family name establishes the winner. This is a public-document selection comparison, not this site’s testing. Details are on the PETG and OPS pages.

PETG vs OPS at a glance

Compare the same inputs for the proposed grades, at the same gauge and conditions.

A manufacturer’s public OPS sleeve table reports density of 1.05 g/cm³ under ASTM D792, and TD shrink of 60 to 65% with MD of 0 to 3% in 90°C water for 10 seconds. The table lists 40, 45 and 50 µm options without separate results by gauge or a named grade. This is one published specification, not a matched PETG comparison. Rigidity and cold-test results are not given.

Shrink behavior

Request free-shrink curves at stated temperatures in TD and MD, with the medium and exposure time. Then compare the required shrink at the container’s waist, shoulder and neck. A free-film result does not prove how a printed, seamed sleeve behaves on a filled container.

Two candidates with the same endpoint may differ across the tunnel profile. Trial both with the actual container and record height change, wrinkles and seam loading. The shrink-wrapping equipment guide covers the machine inputs.

Toughness and handling

Do not assume PETG tolerates all cold handling or that every OPS grade cracks. For both, inspect slit edges, folds and seam transitions after the expected transport and storage conditions. Use the same conditioning temperature, duration and handling sequence.

Illustrative defect path: edge nick → local tear initiation during handling or shrinking → rejected sleeve. Smooth contour fit and intact edges are separate checks; a good shrink result does not establish edge toughness.

Takeaway: compare conditioned slit rolls, not a toughness ranking inferred from polymer names.

Stiffness and machinability

Request MD/TD modulus or a comparable stiffness measurement at the actual gauge and method. Then trial tube opening, cutting, sleeve placement and feeding on the applicator. The published OPS shrink table cited here has no stiffness value, so it cannot substantiate an OPS-over-PETG stiffness ranking.

Print and seaming

Both films are usually reverse-printed on the inside face, so the ink sits behind the film, and both take fine graphics, gradients and metallic effects well. Print appearance rarely decides between them. Sleeve tubes in both materials are formed with solvent seams. Ask your converter which solvent and what seam width and bond strength they validate on your film, because solvent compatibility is specific to the material.

Recyclability

For North American PET bottles, use the APR PET rigid design guide, checked October 9, 2026. Conventional solid OPS must not be treated as a floating label: the cited sleeve table’s density is above water, so sinking is the expected behavior. This is a density-based inference, not a float-sink test of that printed sleeve. Modified or foamed grades need their own density and finished-label test; they are not interchangeable with the cited solid film.

For either candidate, test the printed label’s float-sink behavior and, if it sinks, its PET-process compatibility. Perforation requires actual removal; partial coverage addresses sorting; replacing it with floating polyolefin changes material. None alone proves ordinary PETG compatibility. Design for recycling and recyclable flexible packaging explain the wider boundaries.

Storage and shelf behavior

Shrink film wants to shrink, so storage is part of the specification for both. Sustained warmth can start shrinkage early, which telescopes rolls or throws print off register. Shrink properties can drift with age, so use first-in, first-out and ask for a recommended shelf life and temperature range. For both candidates, obtain the grade-specific storage guidance and test the cold handling sequence rather than assuming a fixed OPS/PETG risk order.

Cost drivers

• Resin price per kilogram: differs by region and over time, so compare current quotes.
• Gauge: whether stiffness or toughness lets one film run thinner.
• Waste: tears, cracks and rejected sleeves from handling damage.
• Line speed and changeover: retuning tunnels and applicators when switching.
• Recycling design: perforation, partial sleeves or special grades add cost.

The broader reasoning is in the guide on when cheaper film costs more.

When to choose PETG

Keep a PETG candidate if its documented curve fits the deepest contour and its slit-roll, seam and cold-handling trials pass. Reject it if either the tunnel result or the required recycling evidence is missing.

When to choose OPS

Keep an OPS candidate if its contour fit, stiffness and conditioned handling meet the application. A lower density than PETG does not necessarily mean it floats; verify the finished sleeve against the chosen recycling route.

Related choices

Chlorinated sleeve film is compared in PVC vs PETG shrink film, and PVC shrink film covers the older material. For overwraps rather than sleeves, see POF shrink film.

Deciding between PETG and OPS

Use one record for each trial roll so that rejects can be traced to conditions.

Use the specification comparison guide to align the conditions. Confirm destination-market food-contact declarations if relevant.

Sources and method

A manufacturer’s public OPS specification table supplies the density and shrink example above, despite the page’s PVC title. It is cited as an OPS-table claim, not a recommendation. Checked October 9, 2026. No matched PETG/OPS rigidity or cold-test results are available here; those comparisons remain trial inputs.