Avery Dennison’s wash-off adhesive label for PET containers approved by Scandinavian deposit return systems

01 Sep 2021 --- Scandinavian bottle deposit organizations Returpack in Sweden and Infinitum in Norway have approved Avery Dennison’s WB0030 wash-off adhesive label – for recycling PET beverage containers.

The label’s material and design make it compatible with recycling systems in the region. Labels and adhesives that remain attached to PET bottles during the recycling process are seen as a disruption to the expanding circular economy

Avery Dennison’s adhesive washes off in a 65°C caustic bath and leaves no residue behind. Any traces of adhesive that remain on the label do not reactivate at lower temperatures.

Speaking to PackagingInsights, Liselotte den Ouden, product manager of film with Avery Dennison, explains that the solution is designed to cater to Nordic country’s specific recycling requirements.

“Scandinavian countries with their strict deposit-return systems for beverage bottles do not follow the general E guidelines that are valid for the rest of Europe. Rather, they have developed specific, different requirements that are very challenging to meet. Hence our special solution for those countries.”

“This adhesive has the potential to make an impact on PET recycling in several Scandinavian countries. Since it separates easily and cleanly from PET during the washing phase, it can ensure more beverage bottles complete the recycling process and become something new.”

“Converters will find it [the adhesive] performs much like conventional alternatives, so they can begin working with it immediately.”

The EU is aiming to achieve 90% separate collection for PET bottles by 2029.The label performs like any other conventional polypropylene label and offers resistance against water whitening and printing performance with its TC7007 topcoat.

The solution is suitable for converters partnering with brands that deliver beverages in Scandinavian countries, and can be used on PET bottles for alcoholic beverages, juice and water, among other products.

Improving Scandinavian waste
Returpack, which has approved the labels for Swedish recycling systems, is a privately-owned company responsible for Swedish deposit return systems (DRS) for metal cans and recyclable PET bottles.

The company claims to operate the only approved DRS in the country.

Infinitum has established a similar system in Norway, which it says has achieved a 95 percent collection rate.

EU targets
The EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive, which came into force on July 3, includes targets to reach 77 percent separate collection for plastic bottles by 2025, increasing to 90 percent by 2029.

The targets also include incorporating 25 percent recycled plastic in PET beverage bottles from 2025, extending to 30 percent in all plastic beverage bottles from 2030.

Labeling advances
The approval of WB0030 comes on the heels of a number of achievements and innovations by Avery Dennison this year.

In January, the company released “a market-first” line of recycled direct thermal labels , citing a rise in e-commerce and logistics, for which thermal labeling is used and usually wasted.

In June, it launched a new iteration of its award-winning CleanFlake filmic label materials, now suitable for PET packaging in food, home and personal care, and beverage applications.

With new adhesive technology and a best-in-class topcoat, CleanFlake enables PET packaging recyclability in combination with printability and performance equal to conventional label constructions.

By Louis Gore-Langton

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