![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Manual-Grade Strapping
Strapping is used in transport packaging to hold products in place on pallets or in other methods of commercial, bulk shipment to prevent tampering and pilferage during shipping. EPA's designation is limited to manual-grade strapping products that are made from recovered PP, PET, and steel.
- Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges
- Product Specifications
- Product Information
- Additional Links
Recommended Recovered Materials Content Ranges:
EPA's Recovered Materials Advisory Notice (RMAN) recommends recycled-content levels for purchasing manual-grade strapping as shown in the table below.
| Product | Material | Postconsumer Content (%) | Total Recovered Materials Content (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester strapping | PET | 50-80 | 50-85 |
| Polypropylene strapping | PP | – | 10-40 |
| Steel strapping ² | Steel |
16
67 |
25-30
100 |
²The recommended recovered materials content levels for steel in this table reflect the fact that the designated item can be made from steel manufactured in either a Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) or an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Steel from the BOF process contains 25-30% total recovered materials, of which 16% is postconsumer steel. Steel from the EAF process contains a total of 100% recovered steel, of which 67% is postconsumer.
Product Specifications:
- Specifications and guidance for breaking strength, elongation, and other characteristics of various types of strapping can be found in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards listed in the following table. These specifications neither recommend nor preclude the use of recovered materials.
| ASTM Specification or Guidance Number | Title |
|---|---|
| ASTM D 3953 | Standard Specification for Strapping, Flat Steel and Seals |
| ASTM D 3950 | Standard Specification for Strapping, Nonmetallic (and Joining Methods) |
| ASTM D 4675 | Standard Guide for Selection and Use of Flat Strapping Materials |
Source: ASTM, 1990; ASTM, 1991; ASTM, 1994; ASTM, 1995
Product Information:
Database
of Manufacturers and Suppliers
This database identifies manufacturers and suppliers
of manual-grade strapping containing recovered materials.
Additional Links:
2007
Buy-Recycled Series: Miscellaneous Products (PDF) (7 pp, 146K, About PDF)
This fact sheet highlights miscellaneous products
designated in the CPG, including manual-grade strapping, and
includes recommended recovered-content levels and a list of
resources.
Technical
Background Document (215 pp, 381K, About PDF)
This background document includes EPA's product
research on recovered-content strapping as well as a more
detailed overview of the history and regulatory requirements
of the CPG process.
