Film label solutions from Avery Dennison have been assessed as ‘fully compatible’ with HDPE recycling by RecyClass – the non-profit, cross-industry initiative aimed at facilitating the transition toward a circular plastic future.
Previously, the firm’s standard adhesion film labels were in limited compatibility for the coloured HDPE recycling stream, but Avery Dennison requested that the RecyClass HDPE Technical Committee carry out an assessment of several PE and PP solutions within its film label portfolio, to verify their impact on the quality of recycled HDPE containers.
The result of the assessment is that the products are fully compatible with existing European industrial recycling processes for HDPE containers for white, coloured and natural plastics.
RecyClass’s Recyclability Evaluation Protocols and scientific testing methods for plastic packaging materials serve as the basis for Design for Recycling Guidelines for all plastic packaging types. These have recently been modified to acknowledge all steps of the HDPE recycling process. The new guidelines emphasised that friction, rather than temperature, is the key factor for label removability.
Avery Dennison said the approval from RecyClass means its products can help customers facing the changes introduced by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), as well as showing that FMCG brands can use its standard adhesion filmic labels for recycling-compatible labelling solutions.
