Report on AWA Seminar: Label Release Liner Issues, Opportunities

Heineken's viewpoint

The seminar agenda also featured a paper from a global label end user. Dennis Bakx, global category buyer packaging materials, for Heineken Global Procurement, focused from a brand owner's viewpoint on sustainability and recyclability in beverage labeling. Heineken is committed to "brewing a better" future through sustainability, with four particular priority areas in focus: water, CO2, sourcing, and responsible consumption. What, then, are his requirements for release liner? With an emphasis on film liner, Heineken is looking for reductions in liner thickness—or, indeed, linerless labelstock; bio-based and biodegradable plastics; the delivery of overall environmentally-responsible performance; recycling and re-use; and eventually, a global supply-chain-wide approach.