VPF introduces “ultra-sustainable” label stock made of renewable grass paper

30 Nov 2018 --- VPF has launched a new adhesive-coated label stock made of grass paper which is both recyclable and compostable. This “ultra-sustainable” addition to VPF’s product portfolio has been approved for direct food contact and can be used across a range of applications, notably printing labels for upmarket products in the food, beverage and cosmetic industries. The label stock is suitable for both permanent and removable labels.

The fresh fiber content in these papers is 50 percent. This provides a major advantage by slashing the required process water input during production. According to the manufacturer, less than one liter of water is needed per ton of grass fiber pulp, compared with 6000 liters of water per ton when producing conventional wood cellulose. This results in significant energy savings and an associated reduction in CO2 emissions. Available in a grammage of 95 g/m2, the grass paper is recyclable, compostable and certified as an FSC-Mix.

“The grass paper label stock is already avaThe grass paper label stock can be used across a range of applications within the food, beverage and cosmetic industries.ilable in Europe, Asia and the US,” Kai Klimek, Sales Manager Süddeutschland, tells PackagingInsights. “It can be used in food contact applications, for example, to package cheese or fruits.”

VPF states that protecting the environment and conserving resources are key considerations when developing new self-adhesive materials and for this reason, it was especially gratifying to find innovative new paper grades that are produced using a readily available renewable source like grass.

VPF is providing the grass paper material with two different adhesives coatings as standard. For permanent-label applications, the acrylic emulsion adhesive 958 is used. This grade is ideal for small diameters and a large variety of substrates. The multi-purpose adhesive has been approved for direct food contact.

For removable labels, VPF employs the well-established 987 adhesive. Removable without a trace from many different kinds of substrate, this adhesive too is based on acrylic emulsion. The adhesives were selected after extensive migration and aging tests conducted in VPF's laboratories at its home plant in Sprockhövel, Germany. Grass paper 95g (VPF 20727) can be easily printed using conventional printing methods. A4 samples and sample rolls are available as of now, VPF reports.

By Joshua Poole