A regional collaboration in California’s Napa and Sonoma wine regions has established a closed-loop stretch film recycling system. The initiative creates a structured recovery pathway for used plastic stretch film. This material is typically excluded from municipal recycling systems due to limited infrastructure and processing constraints.
Stretch film is widely used in the wine industry to stabilise pallet loads and protect products during transport. Although the material is lightweight and efficient for load containment, thin plastic films are often difficult to process within conventional recycling systems.
The programme was developed by the North Bay Zero Waste Collective (NBZWC) in cooperation with stretch film manufacturer Sigma Stretch Film, circular logistics provider iSustain and recycling partner Polyfit. The system enables used stretch film from participating wineries and regional businesses to be collected, processed into recycled resin and remanufactured into new stretch film products.
More than 100 wineries and regional companies currently participate in the initiative. The Collective expects the programme to generate between 20 and 30 truckloads of recovered stretch film annually across Napa and Sonoma counties. Each truckload corresponds to approximately 40,000 pounds of material diverted from landfill.
Regional collection and processing infrastructure
Regional collection and aggregation form the operational basis of the closed-loop stretch film recycling system. Conservation Corps North Bay and Wine Service Co-op support the programme by providing collection services and drop-off locations for participating organisations.
Collected stretch film is aggregated, baled and stored until full truckloads are assembled. The material is then transported for processing. There it is converted into recycled pellets and subsequently used as feedstock for new stretch film production within Sigma’s Sustain360 product line.
According to the programme partners, domestic production capacity plays an important role in enabling closed-loop recycling. Because the Sustain360 film is produced in North America, recovered material can be reintegrated into the same supply chain and manufacturing system.
Addressing limited recycling options
Prior to the programme, many wineries in the region faced difficulties managing used stretch film. Municipal recycling systems typically did not accept the material. Individual facilities often lacked sufficient volume to justify dedicated private collection.
The regional approach allows multiple businesses to combine their material volumes. This creates a collection scale that enables economically viable recycling and processing.
Measurable operational outcomes
The programme has produced measurable results at both facility and regional level. At St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, approximately 5,200 pounds of stretch film were diverted from landfill during the first year of participation. The winery also reported reduced stretch film consumption due to improved handling practices and lower waste management costs.
At the regional level, the cooperative structure enables material recovery that would be difficult for individual facilities to achieve independently.
Potential for broader application
The partners involved in the initiative consider the system a practical example of how regional collaboration can enable closed-loop stretch film recycling for materials that have historically been difficult to integrate into recycling infrastructure.
The programme is currently expanding beyond wineries to include additional regional businesses.
