Herma, manufacturer of self-adhesive label technology, has expanded its portfolio of self-adhesive label materials that use the wash-off adhesive 72Hpw, bringing the range to a total of six film and paper products that can all be recycled in industry-standard PET recycling plants.
The 72Hpw adhesive is certified by the Institute cyclos-HTP with various materials, and is virtually the same cost as a permanent standard adhesive.
Herma puts the development in the context of the EU’s directive on single-use plastics, with a recycled content of 25% being the goal by 2025 for single use bottles, increasing to 65% by 2040. Wash-off adhesives are set to play a role in recycling effectively, as they allow labels, and therefore printing inks, to be removed effectively, leaving a high-quality PET recycled material behind.
The six products now certified by Institute cyclos-HTP include Herma PP white super TC and Herma PP 50 transparent super TC films, allowing PET bottles for beverages, cleaning agents (detergents), cosmetics and personal care products to be made to look ‘very attractive’. These products are also included within Herma’s net width range and can be ordered in any roll width as long as at least four thousand linear metres are being ordered. In addition, the six products include the label paper HERMAcoat WS, described by Herma as having a gentle wet strength, which makes it ideal for wash-off applications, and HERMAtherm PP white 65, a direct thermal film whose thermal printing is water-resistant – ideal for use in the bottling of beverages.
Herma PP white light is resource-friendly because it is more than 15% lighter than a standard film, said Herma, and Herma PE white LD is another new product, a glossy film that is suitable for bottles that are recycled due to its low density.
Stefan Kissling, head of adhesive and special coating development at Herma, commented, ‘With these self-adhesive materials, we can cover almost all common wash-off applications for PET bottles in numerous markets. Print shops and labels users can choose from a wide range of products.’
