When it comes to flexible packaging, one material shows up again and again in snack bags, labels, tapes and book covers: BOPP film. Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) is often called the “packaging queen” of flexible films because it combines high clarity, good moisture barrier and strong mechanical strength with very competitive cost.
By stretching polypropylene in both the machine and transverse directions, film manufacturers obtain a lightweight, stiff and glossy substrate that runs reliably on high-speed packaging lines. Over the past decades, BOPP film types have expanded from simple clear films to a complete family that includes metallized, pearlized, matte, gloss, heat sealable, anti-fog and thermal lamination grades.
Each type is designed to solve a specific packaging problem, such as shelf appeal, barrier, sealing, machinability or recyclability. If you would like to understand the technical properties in more depth, you can also refer to CloudFilm’s BOPP Properties Guide. For real-world examples by application, see BOPP Film Uses in the Packaging Industry.
Compared with many other plastic films, standard BOPP is not biodegradable, but it is recyclable, non-toxic and odourless, and can be used to build mono-material structures that support modern recycling streams. As a dedicated supplier of flexible packaging films, CloudFilm provides a full range of BOPP film types and helps brand owners, converters and printers choose the right structures for snacks, labels, tapes, stationery and many other products.
Key Highlights Of BOPP Film In Modern Packaging
BOPP films have become the preferred substrate for modern flexible packaging, labels and lamination, and the trend is still rising. For buyers and engineers, several highlights are especially important:
1. Global workhorse for food packaging
Thanks to its strong moisture barrier and sealability, BOPP is the default choice for snacks, bakery, confectionery and many dry food products. As more brands move from rigid packaging to flexible film, global demand for BOPP continues to grow.
2. Wide family of film types
Today’s BOPP portfolio covers metallized, pearlized, matte, gloss, anti-fog, heat sealable, cigarette and tape-grade films, as well as thin gauges like 12 micron BOPP film for lightweight laminations. You can see the full range on CloudFilm’s BOPP Film product category page.
3. Strong cost-to-performance balance
When you compare stiffness, barrier, printability and cost per square meter, BOPP often delivers the best balance, especially for large-volume applications such as snack overwraps, adhesive tapes and wrap-around labels.
4. CloudFilm as your BOPP partner
As a dedicated BOPP film supplier in China, CloudFilm can supply jumbo rolls, custom widths and slit rolls, and support you from film specification to logistics. Whether you need metallized film for coffee, pearlized film for ice cream, or matte film for premium labels, our team helps you select the right grade and structure for your project.
Main Types Of BOPP Film And Their Applications
Metallized BOPP Film
Metallized BOPP film is a BOPP base film coated with a very thin layer of aluminium in a vacuum metallizer. This layer creates a shiny metallic appearance and greatly improves barrier to moisture, oxygen and light.
Key features
- High moisture and oxygen barrier
- Strong metallic gloss and light-blocking properties
- Good stiffness and dimensional stability
- Printable and laminatable with suitable surface treatment
Typical uses
Metallized BOPP is widely used in snack laminations, coffee and tea packaging, dry food pouches, biscuits, confectionery wraps, cosmetic sachets and some pharmaceutical overwraps where both barrier and appearance matter.
CloudFilm metallized BOPP film – typical specs & uses
CloudFilm supplies Metallized BOPP Film in thicknesses from 15–70 µm, with options for heat-sealable or non-sealable structures. Typical applications include snack laminations, pharmaceutical sachets, cosmetic overwraps and industrial packaging where you need a metallic look plus strong barrier against moisture and oxygen. Our team can help you decide which OD (or sheet resistance) and thickness best fit your product and packaging line.
BOPP Holographic Film
BOPP holographic film is a BOPP base film with embossed micro-patterns that create a rainbow-like holographic effect when light hits the surface. It can be transparent or opaque, and the patterns can be standard or fully customized.
Key features
- Strong visual impact with holographic rainbow effect
- Can combine security / anti-counterfeit and decoration
- Suitable for lamination, hot stamping or overwrap
- Available in transparent or opaque designs
Typical uses
Holographic BOPP film is popularly used for gift wrap, cosmetic and personal-care packaging, tobacco packs, festive food packaging, labels, tickets and security seals.
CloudFilm holographic BOPP film – for premium branding
For brands that want high shelf impact and anti-counterfeit value, CloudFilm offers BOPP Holographic Film in both transparent and opaque designs. You can choose from standard patterns or develop custom designs for security labels, gift wraps, tobacco and cosmetic packaging. If you need to understand the basic production process and options, you can also refer to our article How to Make Holographic Film.
BOPP Printing Film (Printable BOPP Film)
Printable BOPP film is optimized to provide a stable, receptive surface for printing inks. It is usually corona-treated or coated to ensure good ink adhesion and colour strength.
Key features
- High surface energy for strong ink adhesion
- Good flatness and dimensional stability
- Compatible with gravure, flexo and some digital technologies
- Clear or matte finishes available
Typical uses
Printable BOPP films are used as the outer printing layer in snack packaging, labels, promotional wraps, book covers and advertising materials. They can be laminated to other BOPP, BOPET, CPP or PE films.
CloudFilm BOPP printing film – outer printing layer for flexible packaging
When you need a stable printing surface, we recommend using CloudFilm’s dedicated BOPP Printing Film as the outer web. It offers controlled corona treatment, strong ink adhesion and excellent flatness for gravure, flexo and even some digital presses. Typical structures include: BOPP printing film / Heat Sealable BOPP Film for snacks and confectionery, or BOPP printing film / CPP Film / PE Film for heavier pouches. For more ideas, see also BOPP Film Uses in the Packaging Industry.
BOPP Matte Film
BOPP matte film has a low-gloss, slightly rough surface that diffuses light, creating a soft, non-reflective appearance. It is often used where a “premium” or “natural” look is required.
Key features
- Low gloss, soft-touch surface
- Good printability with the right inks
- Stable haze and gloss values
- Good scuff and scratch resistance compared with glossy films
Typical uses
This type of BOPP matte film is mainly used for flower sleeves, reverse-printed laminates, book and textbook covers, perfume boxes, cosmetic packaging and premium food packaging where a soft, non-reflective look is required.
CloudFilm matte BOPP film – soft touch and premium look
CloudFilm manufactures BOPP Matte Film with consistent haze, gloss and coefficient of friction, making it ideal for luxury labels, book covers, cosmetic packaging and high-end snacks. For projects focused on stiffness and yield, you can also refer to our technical guide Understanding Matt BOPP Film Density, which explains how density and thickness affect cost and performance.
Heat Sealable BOPP Film
Heat sealable BOPP film is a specialized grade with a sealable layer (or layers) that allows the film to be sealed on itself or to other materials under heat and pressure.
Key features
- Adjustable seal-initiation temperature (SIT)
- Strong, consistent seal strength
- Controlled coefficient of friction (COF) for packaging lines
- Can be one-side or both-sides sealable
Typical uses
Heat sealable BOPP is widely used on VFFS and HFFS machines for biscuits, bakery items, noodles, confectionery and various dry foods. It can also be laminated with metallized BOPP or BOPET for higher barrier.
CloudFilm heat sealable BOPP film – for high-speed packing lines
CloudFilm’s Heat Sealable BOPP Film is designed for VFFS and HFFS machines that run biscuits, bakery, instant noodles and similar products. We provide different seal-initiation temperatures, COF levels and slip additives to help you avoid issues like poor sealing, blocking or feeding problems. In many structures, it is laminated with metallized BOPP or BOPET to achieve both barrier and seal performance.
Anti-Fog BOPP Film
Anti-fog BOPP film incorporates anti-fog additives so that condensed water forms a continuous, transparent layer instead of droplets that scatter light and blur the pack.
Key features
- Built-in anti-fog performance in chilled and ambient conditions
- High clarity and gloss for fresh-food display
- Available in one-side or both-sides anti-fog structures
- Often combined with heat-sealable layers
Typical uses
Anti-fog BOPP films are ideal for fresh vegetables, salads, mushrooms, fresh-cut fruit, chilled meat, bakery items and ready meals where cold-chain logistics would otherwise cause fogging.
CloudFilm anti-fog BOPP film – keeping produce clear and fresh
For salads, fresh vegetables and refrigerated foods, CloudFilm offers Anti Fog BOPP Film that maintains clarity even under cold-chain conditions. We can supply both one-side and two-side heat-sealable versions for pillow bags, lidding films and flow-wrap packs. If you want to see a real application, you can watch our Anti Fog BOPP Film video and share your current structure and machine speed with our team.
BOPP Pearlized Film
BOPP pearlized film is a cavitated, opaque white film with a pearlescent effect created by special fillers and voids within the film structure.
Key features
- White, high-opacity background with pearl effect
- Low density for higher yield (more m² per kg)
- Good machinability on high-speed flow-wrap and labelling lines
- Excellent printability for vivid graphics
Typical uses
This pearl-like white BOPP film is widely used to laminate ice creams, candies, labels, personal-care products and cosmetics. It offers low density, good machinability and antistatic behaviour, so it runs smoothly on high-speed flow-wrap and labelling machines.
CloudFilm pearlized BOPP film – low density, strong shelf impact
CloudFilm’s BOPP Pearlized Film combines a bright white, high-opacity background with a soft pearlescent effect. It is especially popular for ice cream bars, candy wraps, soap overwraps and wrap-around labels. With a typical density around 0.76 g/cm³, you get more square meters per kilogram compared with clear BOPP. For a deeper explanation of density and yield, you can read our guide Understanding BOPP Pearlized Film Density for Better Packaging.
BOPP Gloss Film
BOPP gloss film is a clear, high-gloss BOPP grade designed for printing, lamination and overwrap packaging where strong shelf impact and clarity are required.
Key features
- High transparency and surface gloss
- Good stiffness and dimensional stability
- Strong printability with suitable inks
- Available in different thicknesses for lamination or overwrap
Typical uses
Gloss BOPP films are widely used in book covers, magazines, promotional prints, labels, overwraps for food and non-food products, and as the outer layer in laminates.
CloudFilm BOPP gloss film – high clarity and shine
CloudFilm’s BOPP Gloss Film delivers high transparency and surface gloss, making it ideal for book covers, promotional prints, labels and overwraps where you want vivid graphics and a premium look. We offer multiple grades tailored for lamination, printing or tape applications, and can slit jumbo rolls to your exact width and roll diameter.
BOPP Thermal Lamination Film
BOPP thermal lamination film is a BOPP film that has been extrusion- or adhesive-coated with a heat-activated layer so it can bond directly to paper or board using a thermal laminator.
Key features
- Pre-coated adhesive layer for one-step lamination
- Available in gloss and matte finishes
- Good bonding strength with paper and board
- Suitable for book covers, commercial prints and packaging boxes
Typical uses
BOPP thermal lamination film is used to protect and enhance books, magazines, catalogues, posters, gift boxes and various printed packaging components.
CloudFilm BOPP thermal lamination film – protecting your prints
For commercial printing, book covers and advertising materials, CloudFilm offers BOPP Thermal Lamination Film in both gloss and matte finishes. The film features stable adhesive coating, good bonding strength and easy processing on thermal laminators. If you require a softer, tactile feel, you can also consider our Soft Touch BOPP Film as a premium option.
How To Choose The Right BOPP Film For Your Project
When engineers and buyers compare different BOPP film types, three questions usually decide which grade to use:
1. What is the main function of the packaging?
- For high shelf appeal → use BOPP gloss or matte film as the outer web.
- For longer shelf life → combine metallized BOPP with a suitable sealant film.
- For anti-fog in refrigerated chains → choose Anti Fog BOPP Film for lidding or pillow packs.
2. How will the film run on your machine?
- High-speed VFFS / HFFS → select Heat Sealable BOPP Film with the right seal-initiation temperature and COF.
- Labelling or tapes → use BOPP tape film or BOPP printing film designed for your coating and die-cutting process.
3. What are your sustainability and cost targets?
- To reduce grammage → consider thin gauges like 12 micron BOPP film where stiffness still meets your needs.
- To support mono-material recycling → build structures such as BOPP printing film / metallized BOPP / heat sealable BOPP.
If you share your product type, current structure, pouch or label size, machine speed and key pain points with CloudFilm, our team can recommend a short list of BOPP film types, send trial rolls and help you optimize both performance and cost.
Innovations In BOPP Films And CloudFilm’s Role
Sustainability, carbon reduction and circular packaging are reshaping how brand owners choose materials. For BOPP film, three innovation trends are especially visible:
- Recycled packaging – Increasing use of PCR (post-consumer recycled) content, and demand for films that support closed-loop recycling systems.
- Mono-material structures – Designing laminates such as BOPP / metallized BOPP / heat sealable BOPP so that the entire pack is polypropylene-based and easier to recycle.
- Customer-driven performance – Retailers and consumers expect longer shelf life, better shelf impact and lower environmental footprint at the same time.
At CloudFilm, these trends are already being translated into real products – from mono-material BOPP structures designed for recycling, to PCR-based films that help brand owners reduce their carbon footprint. If you are exploring sustainable packaging, our engineers can help you evaluate whether metallized BOPP, BOPE or other films are a better fit for your next project.
Work With CloudFilm For Your Next BOPP Film Project
BOPP films have grown from simple clear wraps into a complete toolbox of metallized, pearlized, matte, gloss, anti-fog and thermal lamination grades. With the right combination, you can improve shelf life, enhance graphics, run faster on your lines and reduce overall packaging costs.
For converters and brand owners, the real challenge is not understanding the theory, but choosing the right BOPP type and thickness for a specific product, machine and budget. That is where CloudFilm can help.
If you share a few details about your application – what you pack, your current film structure, machine speed and target markets – CloudFilm’s engineers can recommend suitable BOPP films, prepare trial rolls and provide complete documentation for food-contact and regulatory compliance.
BOPP Film FAQs: Buyers’ Most Common Questions Answered
1. What is BOPP film used for in packaging?
BOPP film is widely used for snack bags, bakery wraps, confectionery packaging, labels, tapes, book covers and many other consumer and industrial products. Different BOPP film types – such as metallized, pearlized, matte, gloss and anti-fog grades – allow you to balance shelf appeal, barrier, cost and recyclability for each application.
2. Is BOPP film recyclable?
Standard BOPP film is not biodegradable, but it is recyclable where polypropylene (PP) recycling systems exist. To improve recyclability, CloudFilm recommends using mono-material PP structures – for example BOPP printing film / metallized BOPP / heat sealable BOPP – and matching them with PP-based trays or fitments whenever possible.
3. How do I choose the right thickness of BOPP film?
Thinner gauges like 12–18 µm are common for laminations and overwraps, while thicker films are used for labels, tapes and applications that need more stiffness. The best thickness depends on your product weight, pouch size, machine type and performance requirements. CloudFilm’s engineers can recommend suitable thicknesses once you share these details.
4. Can CloudFilm provide sample rolls or A4 sheets for testing?
Yes. Before you switch a full production line, CloudFilm can provide A4 sheets or short trial rolls of different BOPP film types so that your team can test sealing, machinability, printability and appearance under real operating conditions.
5. What information do I need to provide for a BOPP film quotation?
To prepare an accurate quote, we usually need to know the film type (for example metallized, pearlized, heat sealable), thickness, roll width, roll diameter or length, application, expected annual volume and delivery terms (FOB/CIF and destination port). You can share these details in the “Get A Free Quote” form, and CloudFilm will reply with a tailored offer.
