From PP to PLA: How Extrusion Technology Shapes Fresh Food Containers and Cold Drink Cups

Fresh food containers and cold drink cups may look simple, but their performance depends heavily on material selection and extrusion technology.

For manufacturers working with PP, PS, PVC, APET, CPET, and PLA, the challenge is clear:
how to achieve food safety, consistent thickness, clarity or stiffness, and cost efficiency—all at industrial scale.

At Sunwell Global, we design extrusion lines specifically to support these requirements across multiple materials and packaging applications.

Understanding Material Requirements in Food Packaging

Each material brings unique advantages—and processing challenges:

• PP – Excellent toughness and heat resistance, widely used for food containers
• PS – Good rigidity and clarity, ideal for cold drink cups
• PVC – Strong formability for specialized food packaging
• APET – High transparency for fresh food display
• CPET – Superior heat resistance for ready-to-eat and hot-fill applications
• PLA – Bio-based alternative supporting sustainable packaging goals

To process these materials efficiently, extrusion systems must deliver precise temperature control, stable melt flow, and uniform sheet quality.

Key Extrusion Challenges in Food Container Production

Manufacturers often face:

• Thickness variation affecting thermoforming yield
• Material degradation due to improper temperature control
• Inconsistent clarity or stiffness
• Energy loss during continuous high-speed production

These issues directly impact product quality, waste rates, and operating costs.

Sunwell’s Extrusion Solutions for Food Packaging Applications

Sunwell Global’s extrusion lines are engineered to support high-output, food-grade packaging production.

Precise melt temperature control

Optimized screw design ensures stable processing for both amorphous (PS, APET) and semi-crystalline (PP, PLA, CPET) materials.

Uniform sheet thickness and surface quality
Advanced die and calibration systems deliver consistent sheet properties, improving thermoforming efficiency and reducing scrap.

Flexible line configuration
Sunwell extrusion systems can be tailored for fresh food containers, cold drink cups, and heat-resistant packaging—allowing manufacturers to switch materials as market demand evolves.

Supporting Sustainable Packaging Trends

With increasing demand for recyclable and bio-based materials, extrusion technology must evolve alongside regulations and consumer expectations.

Sunwell Global supports:

• Lightweight packaging design
• Efficient processing of PLA and PET-based materials
• Reduced energy consumption per unit output

The Takeaway

High-quality food containers and drink cups start long before thermoforming—they begin with reliable extrusion technology.

By combining material expertise with precision engineering, Sunwell Global helps packaging manufacturers produce food-grade sheets that meet performance, safety, and sustainability requirements.

Sunwell Global is a Taiwan-based manufacturer specializing in advanced plastic extrusion lines for packaging, construction, and sustainable material applications.