Monta launches compostable adhesive tape to close “natural recycling loop”

09 Jan 2020 --- Responding to a need to develop eco-friendly solutions for secondary single-use packaging, Monta has developed a certified biobased self-adhesive tape made from around 90 percent renewable raw resources, called Monta Biopack. Under industrial composting conditions, this sustainable adhesive tape biodegrades within a few months, creating a “natural recycling loop.” The launch addresses both companies’ and consumers’ intense scrutiny for sustainable packaging, which has been driving innovation in this space. 

“We had the vision to develop a sustainable adhesive tape, which would allow our customers to follow their sustainability values without compromising on technical performance. The response in the market so far has been very encouraging,” Sylvia Di Felice, Head of Product Management & Marketing at Monta, tells PackagingInsights.

The tape is ideal for bundling flowers and garden waste, Di Felice says.The latest Monta development is ideal for floristry and horticulture, manufacturers of organic products, the green e-commerce business, organic retailers and anyone putting value on sustainability, the company affirms. The biobased tape will be available for orders at the end of January 2020 and the company has already received orders from customers across the globe, Di Felice says. 

Biobased, natural rubber resin allows Monta Biopack to perform just as well as its rubber resin-based standard tape counterpart. “Monta Biopack is made with a strong and robust backing material with low elongation and offers the additional benefit of being tearable by hand. Its special natural rubber adhesive provides excellent immediate tack and adhesion on various surfaces and makes it easy to unwind,” Di Felice explains. 

With a temperature range of -30°C to +70°C short term, the solution plays in the league of the most resistant adhesive tapes. Monta Biopack is therefore suitable for the permanent closure of medium heavy to heavy cardboard boxes and can also be used in packaging machines. 

Adhering to the TÜV's strict requirements got the Biopack this logo.Technical challenges
The main challenge of developing the tape was finding a suitable film that would work with the natural rubber adhesive to meet the strict requirements of TÜV Austria – a service provider in the field of testing, inspection, certification and training. Having satisfied TÜV Austria’s criteria regarding compostability, biodegradability and ecotoxicity, Monta Biopack was rewarded with the TÜV’s OK COMPOST INDUSTRIAL mark. The logo guarantees products are biodegradable in industrial composting plants, applying to all components, inks and additives. 

“It is compostable in industrial composting facilities and can alternatively be recycled with ‘normal’ plastics and even with carton recycling, where the adhesive tape is separated from the carton for energy recovery,” Di Felice elaborates. 

The tape is available in 80 m and 1200 m, in contrast to 66 m, the norm for packaging tape. The additional sustainability benefit provided here is the extended roll lengths. With fewer roll changes, companies can reduce waste and downtime. It is equally suitable for manual application in various hand and table dispensers, as well as in automated packaging machines, Di Felice notes.

Monta Biopack can be easily recognized by its new “Green Line“ logo in stores.

By Anni Schleicher

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