Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film remains widely used across Malaysia for shrink-wrap, laminates, labels and flexible packaging because it’s cheap, durable and easy to process. But the last few years have seen real pressure — from brand owners, regulators and consumers — to make PVC less harmful across its lifecycle. That pressure is driving three linked changes: safer additives (especially plasticisers), more recycling and a gradual search for lower-impact alternatives.
Safer plasticisers: phthalate-free and bio-based options
One of the biggest environmental and health concerns with flexible PVC is conventional phthalate plasticisers such as DEHP. Industry and public-health bodies (and some markets) are pushing manufacturers away from these substances. In response, PVC producers are increasingly using non-phthalate plasticisers — including trimellitates (TOTM), adipates and newer bio-based esters — that offer comparable flexibility but with lower regulatory risk and (in many cases) better biodegradation or lower toxicity profiles. However, the toxicology and environmental fate of some newer plasticisers remain under study, so “regrettable substitution” is a real risk unless choices are evidence-led.
Recycled PVC and the circular approach
Circularity is becoming a commercial imperative. Malaysian recyclers and service providers have expanded capacity to collect, sort and process post-consumer and post-industrial PVC and other plastic films into recycled resin or energy recovery streams. Local players already reclaim large volumes of mixed plastics, and specialist processors can deliver mechanically recycled PVC for selected non-food uses. At the same time, chemical recycling (depolymerisation) is gaining traction globally as a way to recover monomers from contaminated or multi-layer films that mechanical recycling cannot handle — although costs and commercial scale remain barriers. For Malaysian buyers looking to reduce carbon and waste, specifying higher recycled content and designing for recyclability are practical steps.
Regulatory and market signals that matter
Although Malaysia has not issued a nationwide ban on PVC packaging, global regulatory action (notably in the EU and the US on certain phthalates) and retailer policies are influencing supply chains here. Large exporters and multinational brands increasingly demand chemical safety data and proof of responsible sourcing, which trickles down to local converters and film manufacturers. Market reports and local industry analyses also show rising demand for “greener” packaging, pushing converters to offer phthalate-free, lower-chlorine, or recyclable film grades.
Alternatives and substitution: when PVC isn’t the best fit
For many applications, alternatives such as PET, PE (including mono-polyethylene films) or compostable biopolymers are practical substitutes that simplify recycling or reduce reliance on chlorine-based polymers. However, substitution isn’t always straightforward: performance, barrier properties, heat-shrink behaviour, and cost differ. In food contact and medical uses especially, careful material selection and full chemical risk assessment are essential to avoid replacing one problematic material with another.
What this means for Malaysian manufacturers and brands
Audit formulations and suppliers. Ask film suppliers for full disclosure of plasticisers and stabilisers, and favour phthalate-free or well-characterised bio-based plasticisers.
Cargill
Design for recycling. Simplify multilayer structures where possible, use mono-polymer solutions, and specify clear on-pack recycling instructions to improve end-of-life capture.
Lucintel
Use recycled content sensibly. Where performance allows, adopt mechanically recycled PVC or recycled polyolefin films and document chain-of-custody to meet buyer expectations.
wespack.com.my
Follow the science. Monitor toxicology research on emerging plasticisers to avoid regrettable substitutions; favour suppliers who publish independent safety data.
PMC
Practical quick wins
- Switch to certified non-phthalate plasticisers for non-food grades where cost permits.
southcitypetrochem.com
- Increase recycled content in transport and industrial films first — these are lower risk than direct food contact.
- Collaborate with local recyclers to create closed-loop or take-back programmes that reduce leakage and supply chains costs.
wespack.com.my
Conclusion
PVC film in Malaysia is not disappearing overnight, but the industry is changing: safer plasticisers, more attention to recycling and smarter substitution are converging. For packagers and brands the route forward is pragmatic — reduce hazardous additives, design for recyclability, and lean on verified recycled materials where possible. Taken together, these steps reduce long-term regulatory and reputational risks while keeping the cost and performance benefits that make PVC attractive in the first place.
