Page 38 - FINAT Yearbook 2012

packaging manufacturers, and professional associations, the GPPS – Global Protocol on Packaging Sustainability − is already a dependable and established framework facilitating intelligent and informed debate on sustainability concerns throughout the supply chain. It is now being translated into a global standard.
THE FUTURE FOR LINERLESS LABELS?
What is the future for linerless labels? This resurgent technology is already attracting serious interest for retail priceweigh/prepacked foods. With an entire cutting-edge, purpose-built, eco- friendly plant in Newcastle, UK, dedicated to linerless label production, Reflex Labels has positioned the technology alongside traditional self-adhesive labels as an additional offering that has been requested by its customers. However, according to Director Will Parker: ‘Linerless is only a complementary technology for us, but linerless labels also contribute to our company’s own strong sustainability agenda, which is a major part of our business’. Embracing creative design, and various pre-press activities as well as commercial print across a number of platforms, Reflex Labels embraces a number of green initiatives in its modus
Andy Sweetman
operandi, including a wind turbine at one of its six UK sites.
BIOPLASTICS
Andy Sweetman, Chairman of the European Bioplastics Association, and Business Development and Sustainability Manager for Innovia Films, believes that ‘within the next five years everyone here will have actively used bioplastics in their business’, he said – referring to labelling applications for these products – adding that the label industry ‘is about five years behind flexible packaging in their use.’ Able to replace traditional plastic films, bioplastics are, according to European Bioplastics’ definition, ‘biobased, biodegradable or both’. Indeed, Mr Sweetman said, ‘recycled bioPE is chemically-identical with ordinary PE, and the two can be recycled together.’ He showed, via commercial case histories, how bioplastics are gaining acceptance now with the major brand owners for labelling because of their extensive environmental and end-of-life benefits, applied performance, and high consumer acceptance.
SUSTAINABILITY AND LABEL ADHESIVES
From the stance of an adhesive manufacturer, Wolfgang Aufmuth,
Technology Manager, Hotmelt Adhesives, at Collano Adhesives, went on to discuss sustainability considerations. Today’s packaging agenda involves many different substrates and different types of adhesive water-based, solvent, UV- curable hot melts, and rubber-based hot melts. He showed how the latter offer the highest renewable content. Adhesives partly based on renewable materials are already available, and Mr Aufmuth said that, to meet the needs of the brand owners, solutions for label separation from the container are also currently available, and can be custom- tailored to specific needs.
Wolfgang Aufmuth
INKS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
In terms of making a choice of printing ink, as Sun Chemicals’ Jonathan Sexton, Sales and Marketing Director, Screen and Narrow Web, Europe, showed, sometimes what can be considered to be a positive outcome for environmental footprinting in one area of label or packaging production may have negative consequences further along the supply chain. The case of mineral oil migration from transit packaging which was, he said, ‘quite a major issue in the cartonboard industry’ was just one case study he cited
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Will Parker
FINAT YEARBOOK 2012 |