Labels and Sustainability: The Things You Didn't Know

01 About Paper Labels

Q: Do paper labels affect the recycling process?
A: Paperboard packaging recycling begins with the collection and sorting of different grades of paperboard, which are then sent to paper mills capable of processing specific grades of products. In the mill, these paperboards are pulped, and impurities such as staples and plastics are removed. If certain impurities cannot be removed, they are further diluted. During this process, labels remain in the pulp and mix with other recycled paper products to eventually form new usable materials.

Q: Where does the recycled paper used to make rMC and rDT labels come from?

A: The post-consumer recycled (PCR) waste used to produce rMC and rDT labels comes from multiple sources, including office paper, printer waste, and waste from glassine release liners. Before recycling, PCR waste must undergo de-inking, which removes ink from the paper fibers to produce ink-free pulp.

Q: What is a “fiber-loss-free” paper label?

A: If paper is defined as “fiber-loss-free,” it means that during the recycling process when it is dissolved, it does not release polluting fibers. For example, when wet-strength paper is used with the appropriate adhesive, it can be cleanly removed without fiber loss.

Q: Do paper labels affect the recycling process?

A: Paperboard packaging recycling begins with the collection and sorting of different grades of paperboard, which are then sent to paper mills capable of processing specific grades of products. In the mill, these paperboards are pulped, and impurities such as staples and plastics are removed. If certain impurities cannot be removed, they are further diluted. During this process, labels remain in the pulp and mix with other recycled paper products to eventually form new usable materials.

02 The Role of Labels in Packaging is More Than Just Decoration

Q: What are “recyclable” and “recycling-friendly”?
A: Recyclable labels: In the standard recycling process of a specific region, these labels can be recycled together with the containers they are attached to, such as PET or HDPE (high-density polyethylene) packaging.
Recycling-friendly labels: These labels are designed to improve the recycling efficiency of packaging containers, making the recycling process smoother. For example, CleanFlake™ labels can easily peel off PET bottles during the recycling process, ensuring that the bottles can be cleanly recycled and reused. Other recycling-friendly products can reduce or simplify a step in the recycling process, such as reducing cleaning or sorting work, thereby improving the quality of recycled plastics.

Q: How can label design be optimized to be more recycling-friendly?

A: To make labels more recyclable, the following eco-design principles can be considered:
Choose degradable or recyclable materials.
Avoid metallic details, as metal coatings can interfere with the recycling process.
Reduce label size to save resources and improve the accuracy of plastic sorting.
Select compostable labels that comply with the EN 13432:2000 standard, ensuring they can be completely composted in an industrial composting system.
Use low-ink printing to reduce pollution from printing inks.

03 The Recycling Challenges of Plastic Labels

Q: How are PP, PET, and PE plastics recycled?
A: Mechanical recycling is the most common method of plastic recycling, and the main process includes:
Collection and sorting: PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and PE (polyethylene) plastics are sorted by type. This process used to be done manually but is now mostly done using infrared light systems to distinguish between types of plastics.
Washing: Remove contaminants (such as grease, food residues, etc.) to ensure the quality of the final product is not affected.
Shredding or pelletizing: Plastics are shredded into small particles or made into plastic pellets.
Extrusion molding: Plastics are melted and filtered to remove residual impurities.
Re-manufacturing: The resulting plastics can be used to make new products.

Q: What is the difference between mechanical recycling and chemical recycling?

A: Mechanical recycling: Converts plastic waste into new raw materials or products without altering the chemical structure of the plastic.
Chemical recycling (also known as feedstock recycling): Changes the structure of plastics through chemical processes, breaking them down into shorter molecular compounds, which are then used in new chemical reactions to ultimately produce high-quality plastics such as food-grade plastics.

Q: How many times can plastic be recycled?

A: The number of times plastic can be recycled depends on its type.
Some plastics can be recycled multiple times.
Most plastics, due to issues such as contamination and material degradation, can typically only be recycled 2–3 times.