UPM Raflatac releases 85 percent recyclate label material for home and personal care, 100 percent to follow

14 Feb 2020 --- UPM Raflatac has launched a label material made of 30 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic from household waste and a minimum of 55 percent post-industrial (PIR) plastic. The remaining 15 percent of the label face consists of virgin auxiliary substances like the PE masterbatch, including the additives and pigments it carries. PE PCR White TC 85 is available in Europe for the home and personal care markets and will be made globally available.

All over the world, there is a growing movement to find better ways of reducing plastic waste. Moreover, legislation in the European Union sets pressure to increase recycling to cover more than 50 percent of the EU’s plastic waste and make all plastic packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030. Transforming the plastics value chain also requires boosting the demand for recycled plastics by manufacturing more products from recycled content.

“We design our solutions keeping in mind the recyclability of materials. The UPM Raflatac PE PCR White TC 85 is equivalent to the current market standard, and the recommended disposal route is plastic recycling. In general, it is good to note that usually the label is recycled with the container it is adhered to so further recycling is dependent on the packaging combination. Monomaterial solution can support recycling so, for example, adhering this PE Label to an HDPE container is a good solution,” Anniina Kujala, Segment Manager, Films, UPM Raflatac, tells PackagingInsights.

The self-adhesive label materials specialist is continuously working with its suppliers to produce the PE masterbatch from fully recycled plastics, notes Kujala. That would enable the creation of PE film made from 100 percent recycled plastic, which has not been possible in the industry to date. However, Kujala says that UPM Raflatac could achieve this ambition “quite soon.”

Aesthetics reflecting sustainability
Visually, PE PCR White TC 85 still has “good appearance,” but because the recycled plastic derives from mechanical recycling, tiny gels are visible if you look closely enough, notes Kujala. However, she does not see this as a disadvantage.

“We feel this reflects the recycled nature of the material, echoing its sustainable roots. The authentic character gives the label a unique look, which suits especially well containers also made from recycled plastics. Due to mechanical recycling, the material is not food approved, but it is a perfect match for home and personal care applications.”

Why not paper?
In general, paper is a good label material for many applications, but often there are visual or functional requirements such as transparency, squeezability or moisture resistance that cannot be achieved with a paper label, explains Kujala.

Anniina Kujala, Segment Manager, Films, UPM Raflatac, believes poor management of plastic waste is responsible for the plastic waste crisis.“Further, the recyclability of plastic packaging is often supported by the use of plastic labels, although this may vary depending on the recycling infrastructure and the processes being used. By replacing virgin raw materials with recycled plastics, we can ensure a truly sustainable labeling solution that supports circular economy.”

As one of the signatories to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy Global Commitment, UPM Raflatac is committed to offering labeling solutions with recycled content that are suitable for a variety of end-uses. The Global Commitment has mobilized over 400 signatories that are focused on building a circular economy for plastics. Many are also setting targets for the amount of recycled content used in their plastic packaging.

Plastic is not the problem
Plastics are not the problem but rather plastic waste, stresses Kujala. As there is an urgent need to increase recycling and decrease plastic waste, it is essential to find suitable end-uses for recycled plastics.

“The PCR content of this label is coming from household waste so it is an excellent example of how the circularity of plastics can help solve the plastic waste problem. UPM Raflatac PE PCR has created a lot of interest in the markets, leading to several projects already being executed,” she concludes.

In other UPM Raflatac news, the supplier introduced an industry-first wood-based polypropylene film material to the consumer packaging market in August. In February, UPM Raflatac completed the first pilot of its new smart label solution, RafMore for e-commerce. RafMore labels use Internet of Packaging (IoP) technology to log and share information about packages, adding transparency and reducing inefficiencies and waste during the delivery process.

By Joshua Poole