Avery Dennison has launched new polypropylene (PP) label materials made from up to 99% chemically recycled post-consumer waste. Created in collaboration with SABIC, the rPP label portfolio is ISCC PLUS certified and aims to help brands and product manufacturers reach sustainability goals.
Polypropylene is a widely used material in product packaging that does not have as robust a recycling stream as other plastics, such as PET. Avery Dennison aims to address the lack of sustainable PP options on the market with their new material.
“We’ve seen a rapid rise in demand for recycled label solutions as more brands are making substantial sustainability pledges.” says Mariya Nedelcheva, Product Manager Film at Avery Dennison. “This is partly driven by upcoming regulations around plastic packaging, especially in Europe, and partly driven by consumers increasingly making purchasing decisions based on the eco-credentials of a product.”
The new recycled polypropylene (rPP) film is made from resin containing up to 99% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. The chemical recycling process used to make rPP results in film with the same characteristics and quality as conventional PP, but with a 79% reduction in CO2 emissions. Available in white (90% PCR) and clear (99% PCR), rPP is approved for direct food contact and is a highly sustainable option for food, beverage, cosmetics, personal care, and home care products.
Containing a high percentage of recycled material, rPP can help alleviate upcoming plastic packaging fees, such as the European plastic levy, being introduced in 2023, with a potential call rate of 0.80 EUR per kilogram of non-recycled plastic packaging waste. As well as the UK plastic tax, taking effect in 2022, which will tax plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled material.
The material is made in collaboration with SABIC as part of their TRUCIRCLE™ initiative which aims to close the loop on plastic recycling. It is ISCC PLUS certified as a circular polymer solution. To retain this certification, all participants in the supply chain, including converters, must be ISCC certified to ensure the traceability and mass-balance adherence across the full value chain.
