Carbon-neutral labels: UPM Raflatac mitigates climate change through global offset projects

05 Oct 2021 --- UPM Raflatac is introducing RAFNXT+, the “world’s first” Carbon Neutral label material certified as a carbon-neutral product by Natural Capital Partners. 

In 2019, UPM Raflatac announced RAFNXT+ was the “world’s first” label material verified by The Carbon Trust to reduce its carbon footprint and help mitigate climate change.

“The recent IPCC climate report showed the time to act is now. There is more than a 50% chance that global warming will exceed 1.5 °C in the early 2030s,” stresses Robert Taylor, sustainability director at UPM Raflatac.

“Consumer brands have set ambitious climate targets, and they are looking for tangible solutions to take positive action credibly. Product packaging plays an important role here, and we can help our clients make a difference in the battle against climate change.”

Reducing carbon emissions
As part of its climate approach, UPM Raflatac continues to reduce its emissions, including from raw materials and transportation.

UPM Raflatac continues to reduce its emissions, including from raw materials and transportation.The positive climate action of choosing RAFNXT+ instead of a standard labeling material is verified by The Carbon Trust, including the smarter use of raw materials, which reduces pressure on forests and increases the capacity to improve mitigation of climate change.

The label material’s cradle-to-customer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are fully compensated through global projects, verified to internationally recognized standards, such as the Gold Standard.

Carbon labeling continues to gain traction. In 2020, Amcor began offering printed “Reducing CO2 Packaging” labels on a range of flexible packs. The move came after a Carbon Trust-commissioned YouGov survey found two-thirds of European consumers support product carbon labels.

Likewise, Upfield aimed to introduce on-pack carbon labeling on 100 million plant-based and dairy spread packs last year.

Carbon neutrality blueprint
The Carbon Neutral product certification is issued by Natural Capital Partners in accordance with The Carbon Neutral Protocol. This leading global framework provides a “robust and pragmatic blueprint” for carbon neutrality.

UPM Raflatac has chosen projects to offset emissions, delivering verified GHG emission reductions and bringing additional benefits, for example, by supporting local communities.

The selected projects include providing cleaner cooking solutions to communities in China and Bangladesh, improved water infrastructure in Africa, and grassland conservation in the US.

“Our Carbon Neutral certification enables our clients to achieve carbon neutrality in a robust, credible, and transparent way. This certification complements and builds on the wider climate action taken by UPM Raflatac to reduce the carbon footprint of their product,” explains Natalie Taylor, director of client solutions at Natural Capital Partners.UPM Raflatac’s offset projects support local communities.

“We are pleased to work with UPM Raflatac, helping them to support their clients to have an impact on global emissions with the product choices they make.”

UPM Raflatac in the news
In other circulatory slides, Berry Gardens, the UK’s largest co-operative of berry growers, partnered with Coveris and UPM Raflatac to deliver an environmentally superior material and recycling strategy for its promotional labels in May.

In February, UPM Raflatac added a Direct Thermal linerless label design to its portfolio, which the company says is a “benchmark-setting” development for the industry. 

Last year, UPM Raflatac released a new polyethylene film label to complement its range of environmentally sustainable film labeling solutions.

By Joshua Poole

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