What is the Difference Between Cellophane and Plastic Wrap?

Many people confuse the cellophane and plastic packaging film, collectively referred to as a same type of packaging material. Because from the surface of the naked eyes, both materials are transparent and used to package food and various products. Cellophane and plastic wrap are totally different products.

Right off the bat, the easiest difference to spot is the texture and feel of both materials. Plastic wrap is like the sheer cover used to preserve leftovers which is clingy and feels more like a film. Cellophane, on the other hand, is thicker and markedly stiffer with no cling abilities. The weight density for cellophane is 1.45 while for plastic wrap is 0.92 or so.

There is another interesting phenomenon. Some packaging buyers in Europe and North America may refer to BOPP as cellophane, but in fact, it is not real cellophane, but petro-based polypropylene packaging film. This not real cellophane(BOPP/OPP) film can be produced into cellophane sheets, cellophane rolls and cellophane bags for cookies, candies, flowers, and more. Actually this is recyclable. German packaging customers may ask you "do you have real cellophane/cellulose film"?

Cellophane also known as "regenerated cellulose film" is a kind of cellulose film derived from natural sources such as wood pulp and cotton pulp. This true cellophane/cellulose film is biodegradable and can be composted quickly. Cellulose film is transparent like glass as well as flexible. You can burn it just like a normal paper!

You’ve likely seen cellophane wrapped around candies, baked goods, flowers, medicines, cigarettes & tobacco, and even encasing boxes of teas, etc. The packaging has low moisture and oxygen permeability making it great for keeping things fresh. It’s much easier to tear and remove than plastic wrap film. Now with the implementation of plastic prohibition and restriction orders, it has also become the favorite of new materials in this new era. The majority of today’s cigars are bundled in this see-through packaging material.That's the popular cellophane cigar bag.

As for plastic wrap, it can easily give food a tight seal thanks to its clingy nature, and because it’s malleable, it can fit a variety of items. Unlike cellophane, it’s much harder to tear and remove from products. Plastic wrap can be created from PE, PVC. It is recyclable. You can use this plastic wrap to pack leftovers, sea food, meat, fresh vegetables & fruits, but not cellophane.