UPM Raflatac expands RafCycle® label liner recycling solution to North America

Wed, Dec 05, 2018 16:00 CET

(UPM Raflatac, Mills River, NC, USA, December 5, 2018 at 17:00 EET) - UPM Raflatac, the global leader in sustainable pressure sensitive labeling solutions, is pleased to announce its RafCycle® recycling solution has expanded to the United States and Canada. Now, brands in this region can give new life to their self-adhesive label waste that would otherwise be landfilled. Converter and printer Fort Dearborn Company as well as several brand owners are participating in the launch.

UPM Raflatac collects the paper and PET liner waste from its RafCycle partners and recycles it into new materials, which provides numerous benefits to printers, packers, brand-owners, and, of course, the environment. Turning waste into a resource is a key concept in the circular economy and an important part of UPM Raflatac's approach to labeling a smarter future beyond fossils.

Collaboration across the value chain is important to making the RafCycle program successful in delivering more sustainable packaging solutions. The North American launch of the program includes value added partners across the value chain, from UPM Raflatac to printers/converters, brands and recyclers.

"Our RafCycle program proudly boasts more than 120 partners worldwide, and we are honored to bring this solution to sustainability-minded brands in North America who are looking to join us in labeling a smarter future by reducing their label waste," says Juha Virmavirta, Director, RafCycle Solutions, UPM Raflatac. "We invite any brands looking to achieve their sustainable packaging and zero waste targets to contact us to learn more about how our RafCycle solution can benefit them."

UPM Raflatac also announces that it has partnered with Sustana and Kal-Polymers to recycle the paper and PET label liner waste from its RafCycle partners.

"Sustana is pleased to support the innovative RafCycle program and to be part of the circular economy, by renewing fiber that is often landfilled, and turning it into new paper and tissue products," says Jay Hunsberger, Vice President, Pulp Sales and Marketing, Sustana.

"Our recycled materials enhance profits, reduce costs, maintain quality and support sustainability," says Gobi Saha, President, Kal-Polymers. "We have joined UPM Raflatac's RafCycle program to help give label liner waste a new life."

"By signing on as a RafCycle partner, we will help our customers and brand owners build their legacy as a responsible business and reduce their environmental footprint," adds Tyler Matusevich, Sustainability Manager, Americas, UPM Raflatac. "Our RafCycle waste management concept shows how we can work together to think and act circular. Special thanks to Fort Dearborn Company, Sustana and Kal-Polymers for taking this important step in creating a more circular economy."

For more information about UPM Raflatac's RafCycle concept and to contact us about becoming a RafCycle partner, visit http://go.upmraflatac.com/rafcycle-am.

Click here to watch a video about the RafCycle North America launch » http://go.upmraflatac.com/rafcycle-video

Click here to download high-resolution images and logos » http://pet.upm.com/l/BcxchbDn2-JW

For more information, please contact:

Scott Sowers
Senior Communications Specialist, UPM Raflatac
Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00 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.

Fort Dearborn Company
Fort Dearborn Company is a leading supplier of high-impact decorative labels and packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, paint and coatings, household and personal care, beer and nutraceutical markets. Headquartered in Illinois, the company has seventeen operating divisions in North America, employing approximately 1,700 associates. www.fortdearborn.com

Sustana
Sustana, a leading producer of FSC-certified, recycled fibers, takes its role as a steward of the environment seriously. We use highly automated proprietary processes to efficiently turn post-consumer waste into the highest quality recycled fiber for use in the production of FDA-compliant foodservice packaging, printing papers, tissue, and formed fiber packaging. Sustana's recycled fibers facilities are based in De Pere, Wisconsin (USA) and in Lévis, Quebec (Canada). Sustana is proud to provide a comprehensive recycled fiber solution for customers throughout North America. www.sustanagroup.com

Kal-Polymers
We are an ISO 9001:2015 certified company manufacturing recycled compounds in Toronto, Canada since 1992. We have state-of-the-art compounding lines with 50 million lbs capacity, processing post industrial plastic scrap into reusable pellets based on customer specifications. Through continuous investments in Technology and R&D, we have been successful in finding solutions and giving a second life to challenging scrap that was otherwise ending up in landfills or being dumped into the China market. Our processes accept all forms of scrap including Film, Sheets, Parts, Purge/Bleeds with Barrier, Filler, Print, Coating and Metalizing. Our products replace virgin resins benefitting our partners - reducing landfill, meeting sustainability goals, enhancing profits and reducing costs. www.kalpolymers.com

UPM
We deliver renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. We employ around 19,100 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. Our shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM Biofore - Beyond fossils. www.upm.com

UPM Raflatac expands RafCycle® label liner recycling solution to North America

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