Sapir Sets New Standards with the Development of an Antibacterial Stretch Film

The idea was born shortly after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic: to develop secondary packaging that protects against viruses and thus contributes to public health in difficult times. The idea became reality: Zeev Sapir, CEO of Sapir Plastics Industries, and his team achieved their goal by patenting the Defender Wrap stretch film in December 2023.

Defender Wrap is a hard-wearing and particularly durable stretch film that can be used to wrap and secure goods in various industries such as transportation, logistics, healthcare, and retail. It is used over primary packaging so that it does not come into direct contact with the product contents, such as food. "This makes the product particularly suitable for ensuring the safety and integrity of goods during transportation and storage, especially in environments such as supermarkets where hygiene is paramount", explains Zeev Sapir when asked by FACHPACK360°.

In contrast to conventional stretch film, Defender Wrap ensures that the packaged goods do not become part of the chain of spreading of Covid-19 or other viruses, as almost all of the bacteria and viruses that come into contact with it are eliminated in the shortest possible time, explains Sapir. The manufacturer does not reveal the exact ingredients of the film, only that the bacteria and viruses are destroyed by the ions released. Product development has now been completed and the effectiveness has been confirmed in laboratory tests. According to Sapir, the film is produced in Israel to the highest quality and safety standards. The antibacterial component is non-toxic to humans and does not affect the quality or appearance of the goods.

"Revolutionary Product"

"We are proud to introduce Defender Wrap, a revolutionary product that can help protect the health and safety of our customers and their end users, especially in these challenging times. Defender Wrap is the result of our continuous research and development efforts as well as our commitment to environmental responsibility and social contribution", says Zeev Sapir. Defender Wrap is available in different thicknesses, weights, colors, and widths and can be customized according to customer requirements and specifications.

High Recycled Content

Sapir Plastics Industries wants to remain a leader in terms of innovation and sustainability and has set the bar high with a recycled content of up to 95 percent in its stretch films. The company now plans to drive forward the development of Defender Wrap with a recycled content of 30 to 95 percent. "We are committed to sustainability and integrate recycled materials into our products in order to offer environmentally friendly packaging solutions without compromising on quality", says Sapir.

Nominated for WorldStar

In the national packaging competition "Star of Israel" of the Israeli Institute of Packaging, member of the World Packaging Organization (WPO), Sapir Plastics Industries has emerged as the winner in the category "Sustainable Packaging" for the year 2024. According to the jury in Tel Aviv, one of Sapir’s notable achievements is its machine-stretchable film with 250 percent elongation and 17 to 30 micrometers thickness, which contains 30 percent post-consumer recycled content (PCR) without compromising its mechanical properties.

This win demonstrates Sapir’s successful balance between maintaining high quality packaging standards and using recycled plastic materials and underlines its commitment to sustainability. With the award, the company has been nominated as a participant in the international WorldStar competition.