The shape of sustainable labels is circular: UPM Raflatac announces APR-recognized wash-off film labels with recycled liners for Americas and Asia Pacific
(UPM Raflatac, Mills River, NC, USA, June 27, 2018 at 17:00 EET) - UPM Raflatac is taking another step forward in its drive to label a smarter future by announcing that it has developed a range of wash-off film labeling solutions for a variety of end uses that can help brands create a circular economy and also meet or even accelerate their ambitious sustainability targets.
These clear, white and metalized film label stocks - featuring UPM Raflatac's RW85C wash-off adhesive and a PET liner made from 90 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content - have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) as exceeding their strict standards for recyclable label products. Now available in the Americas and Asia Pacific market regions, the labels are ideal for labeling PET containers in the food, beverage, home care and personal care segments.
Thanks to the RW85C wash-off adhesive, the labels are able to undergo common PET recycling processes without contaminating any of the PET flake by-products. During the caustic washing process, the polypropylene labels easily separate from PET containers and float, allowing more high-value, clean PET flakes to be recovered. The clean flakes can then be converted back into PET containers, which promotes a circular economy and reduces the amount of plastic pollution in landfills and the environment.
"As the global drive to reduce plastic waste continues to gain speed, more and more packaging companies are looking for new and innovative solutions to maximize the recyclability of their PET containers," says Junion Zhao, Director, Films Business, APAC, UPM Raflatac. "We are pleased to bring these wash-off labeling materials to market for our customers and brand owners aiming to achieve their sustainability targets."
"Exceeding the APR's standards for recyclable label products on PET packaging was very important for us when we developed these new film labels with RW85C adhesive," adds Daryl Northcott, Director, Films Business, Americas, UPM Raflatac. "UPM Raflatac recently became an APR Recycling Demand Champion, which means we are committed to boosting circular packaging solutions and incorporating post-consumer recycled content into our materials, and these new label materials do exactly that."
Click here for hi-res photos » http://pet.upm.com/l/ctc-JRXNfBxn
For further information please contact:
Scott Sowers
Senior Communications Specialist, UPM Raflatac
Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00 ET
tel. +1 828-275-7261
scott.sowers@upmraflatac.com
UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is labeling a smarter future by developing innovative and sustainable labeling solutions complemented with world-class service. As one of the world's leading producers of self-adhesive label materials, we supply high-quality paper and film label stock for consumer product and industrial labeling through a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. We employ around 3,000 people and made sales of EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.9 billion) in 2017. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM - The Biofore Company. Find out more at www.upmraflatac.com.
Follow us on Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
UPM
UPM leads the forest-based bioindustry into a sustainable, innovation-driven and exciting future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. UPM provides sustainable and safe solutions to the growing global consumer demand. Products are made of renewable and recyclable materials. The group employs around 19,100 people worldwide and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com.
Follow UPM on Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | upmbiofore.com