Why Stretch Film Loosens in Summer Heat — and How to Prevent It

If you have ever unloaded a summer shipment and found the stretch film hanging loose around the pallet, you already know the problem: heat degrades wrap performance. As a thermoplastic material, stretch film relaxes when temperatures climb, losing the holding tension that keeps loads stable. This guide explains why it happens and what logistics teams can do about it.

Why Heat Weakens Stretch Wrap

Stretch film gets its tension from polymer chains stretched under tension. When temperatures rise, those polymer chains slide past each other. The film elongates permanently, cannot recover, and the grip around the pallet drops — leaving a loose, slack wrap.

When It Gets Dangerous

• Containers parked in direct sun (internal temperatures can exceed 60°C)
• Summer road freight through hot regions
• Outdoor storage yards
• Film stored itself in a hot warehouse before use

Five Ways to Prevent Summer Load Failure

1. Use UV- and Heat-Stabilized Formulations

Ask your supplier for LLDPE film with thermal stabilizers. Muguan offers film rated for 1–5 years UV exposure, which also resists heat relaxation better than standard grades.

2. Increase Wrap Layers at the Top

The top of the pallet bears the most shear. Add extra "top shear" wraps (4–6 layers) to compensate for tension loss.

3. Tension-Up During Hot Runs

Increase the wrapper tension setting by 10–15% in summer — but test first to avoid film breakage.

4. Store Film Cool and in Shadow

Keep rolls in a shaded, ventilated area. Film that is already warm when applied holds far less.

5. Choose Heavier Gauge for Hot Hauls

For intercontinental summer shipments, step up one gauge (e.g. from 20 to 23 micron) to add margin.

The Bottom Line

Summer heat is a predictable enemy. With stabilized film, tighter top-shear wraps, and cool storage, you can eliminate most heat-related load shift.

Shipping through summer? Muguan supplies heat- and UV-stabilized LLDPE stretch film. Ask for our summer-grade recommendation. View stretch film range. Get in touch.