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{{unsourced|date=December 2016}}
[[File:Pvc-Film.jpg|thumb|317x317px|A roll of Plastic wrap]]
[[File:Pvc-Film.jpg|thumb|317x317px|A roll of Plastic wrap]]
'''Plastic wrap''' (also '''cling wrap''' or '''food wrap''') is a thin [[plastic]] material used for sealing food in containers. It keeps them fresh over a long period of time without spoiling. It is usually sold on rolls in boxes with a cutting edge.
'''Plastic wrap''' (also '''cling wrap''', '''food wrap''', or '''clingfilm''') is a thin [[plastic]] material. It is used for sealing food in containers. It keeps food fresh over a long period of time without spoiling. It is usually sold on rolls in boxes with a cutting edge.


Plastic wrap was first made from polyvinyl [[chloride]] (PVC). A common, cheaper alternative to PVC is low-density [[polyethylene]] (LDPE). LDPE is less [[adhesive]] than PVC.
Plastic wrap was first made from [[polyvinyl chloride]] (PVC). A common, cheaper alternative to PVC is low-density [[polyethylene]] (LDPE). LDPE doesn't stick to itself as well as PVC.


In the [[United States]] and [[Japan]], there is the production of plastic wrap using polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). PVdC is the main ingredient in Saran Wrap.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saran Wrap|publisher=Matweb.com|url=http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheet.aspx?matguid=57c29e222a7749d58267c18e9e18b637&ckck=1|accessdate=December 26, 2016}}</ref>
In the [[United States]] and [[Japan]], Plastic wrap has sometimes been made of polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). PVdC was the main ingredient in Saran Wrap, a popular brand of plastic wrap. Now, Saran Wrap is made with polyethylene.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saran Wrap|publisher=SaranBrands.com|url=http://www.saranbrands.com/faq.asp#10|access-date=Dec 30, 2016|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205095936/http://www.saranbrands.com/faq.asp#10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Research shows that plastic wrapping of food is often not wasteful, because the food lasts longer. A study showed that only 3% of wrapped food was wasted in the UK, but up to 50% of food was wasted in an African country, where it was sold unwrapped.<ref>BBC Sounds programme [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3csz2w3?intc_type=mixedcards&intc_location=bbcsounds&intc_campaign=iplayerfooter&intc_linkname=audioclip_50thingsthatmadetheeconomy_contentcard2]</ref>


==References==
==References==
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== Related pages ==
*[[Cellophane]]
*[[Polyethylene]]



[[Category:Polymer chemistry]]
[[Category:Polymer chemistry]]

[[Category:Materials]]


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[[Category:Synthetic materials]]

Latest revision as of 11:43, 14 March 2023

A roll of Plastic wrap

Plastic wrap (also cling wrap, food wrap, or clingfilm) is a thin plastic material. It is used for sealing food in containers. It keeps food fresh over a long period of time without spoiling. It is usually sold on rolls in boxes with a cutting edge.

Plastic wrap was first made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A common, cheaper alternative to PVC is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE doesn't stick to itself as well as PVC.

In the United States and Japan, Plastic wrap has sometimes been made of polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC). PVdC was the main ingredient in Saran Wrap, a popular brand of plastic wrap. Now, Saran Wrap is made with polyethylene.[1]

Research shows that plastic wrapping of food is often not wasteful, because the food lasts longer. A study showed that only 3% of wrapped food was wasted in the UK, but up to 50% of food was wasted in an African country, where it was sold unwrapped.[2]

References

[change | change source]
  1. "Saran Wrap". SaranBrands.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved Dec 30, 2016.
  2. BBC Sounds programme [1]
[change | change source]