How to Reduce Stretch Film with Antim® Without Compromising Pallet Stability

Extra or thicker stretch film is often used to secure pallet stability. But if the load is not stable between the layers, more film rarely solves the root cause. With Antim® anti-slip paper, you can instead build stability into the pallet from the start.

Less stretch film starts with a more stable pallet

In many production environments, extra stretch film is used as a quick solution when a pallet seems unstable. An additional layer may seem like a simple way to protect the load, but it does not necessarily change the underlying challenge. If the product layers can shift within the load, you are essentially trying to stabilise the pallet from the outside rather than creating stability from within.

This is exactly where Antim® anti-slip paper makes a difference. When you place anti-slip paper between the layers, you create friction and load retention during palletising. That gives you a more stable load from the start and reduces the need to compensate with extra stretch film at the end. Antim® paper from Palcut is a strong solution for stabilisation challenges involving heavy, slippery and difficult goods.

The problem with solving instability with more stretch film

When the pallet is not stable between the layers, stretch film is often used as a safety buffer. This is typically done to reduce the risk of load shifting, transport damage and claims. In some cases, that means applying more wraps of stretch film. In other cases, a thicker stretch film is chosen to create more containment around the load. But more or thicker film around the pallet does not necessarily create better internal stability between boxes, sacks or other items on the pallet.

This means packaging consumption can increase without solving the cause of the instability. You use more material because the load lacks friction where the products meet. As a result, extra wraps of stretch film or thicker stretch film can become a fixed part of the process, even though more stable palletising from the start can often make that unnecessary.

Why less stretch film can be a more precise solution

When stability is built in from the start, you gain better control over how the pallet reacts during acceleration, braking, vibration and handling. That makes a difference both in internal transport and on the way to the customer.

By using Antim, you can reduce stretch film consumption by up to 30%. That does not only mean lower material usage. It also means you can make palletising more consistent and less dependent on whether someone decides to add an extra layer of film “just to be safe”.

Small differences in friction can have major consequences

In-house tests show that Antim® can significantly change how the load behaves. In a tilt test with eight 15 kg boxes stacked in four layers, the load without Antim® began to tip at 19°. With two Antim® sheets, it tipped at 22.5°, and with four sheets, it tipped at 26.3°.

This matters because the difference between a load that stays in place and one that shifts is rarely just about a few degrees on paper. In practice, it means fewer damaged goods, more stable handling and greater confidence that the products will arrive in the same condition they left the production line. That is the rational side of the decision. The more business-critical side is that unstable pallets can cost time, trust and delivery reliability.

PPWR makes packaging reduction more relevant

For many companies, reducing stretch film is no longer just a question of material cost. It has also become a strategic packaging issue. The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026. The regulation covers all packaging and packaging waste and aims, among other things, to prevent unnecessary packaging, reduce waste volumes and promote more efficient use of packaging materials.

In that context, it makes sense to look at how you can reduce packaging consumption without weakening load stability. When Antim® creates friction between the layers from the start, you can reduce the need for extra layers of stretch film around the pallet. That makes the solution relevant in a setting where packaging is not only expected to protect the product, but also to be evaluated based on quantity and function.

Less packaging does not have to mean less safety

The key point is that packaging reduction must not come at the expense of operations. If you reduce stretch film without improving pallet stability, you simply shift the risk to the warehouse, transport stage or customer. So the point is not just to use less packaging. The point is to use packaging more precisely.

This is where Antim® becomes relevant, because stability is created earlier in the process. When the load is held more firmly between the layers, stretch film takes on a different role. It becomes the final securing element rather than the primary method of keeping the pallet together. That gives you a better foundation for reducing packaging volume while staying in control of the outcome.

A more robust approach to palletising

If you currently use one or two extra wraps of stretch film to create more peace of mind during transport, it is worth considering whether stability can instead be built into the pallet itself. Improving friction between the layers may be more effective than continuing to add more packaging around the outside.

Antim® gives you the opportunity to work more precisely with pallet stability because the load becomes stronger from the start. It can reduce the need for extra stretch film, improve transport control and support a more deliberate approach to packaging reduction in light of PPWR.

Conclusion

If you want to reduce stretch film, it is rarely enough to simply remove one layer. You first need to make sure the pallet is stable where the instability begins. With Antim® anti-slip paper, you create friction between the product layers from the start, so the load remains more secure during handling and transport.

This can reduce the need for extra stretch film, make palletising more consistent and give you a more precise way to work with packaging. And at a time when PPWR is increasing the focus on preventing unnecessary packaging, it is a relevant path for companies that want to reduce packaging consumption without compromising pallet stability.

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