Advancing Sustainability in a Complex Value Chain

EU Packaging Waste Directive

At a regional level, self-adhesive labels must meet the requirements of the EU Packaging Waste Directive, which is driving change in Europe through legislation and punitive levies for non-conformance. Here, in the self-adhesive label industry, waste management, recycling, and recyclability are priority issues in relation to one particular part of the self-adhesive label laminate—the release liner. Release liner is the ‘hero’ of the self-adhesive label conversion and automatic application processes, delivering superb handling characteristics on the printing press and in label application. However, it is also a perceived problem for the recycling lobby since, once a self-adhesive label has been automatically applied to the product, the release liner that delivered it is effectively redundant, its purpose fulfilled. The latest revision to the Packaging Waste Directive in its final draft that was recently submitted to the Council of Ministers is consistent with FINAT’s definition of used liner as process waste as opposed to packaging waste—but this is not the end of the story. In individual national legislation in a number of countries around Europe—including The Netherlands and the United Kingdom—spent release liner has been defined as packaging waste at the end of its working life, and is therefore the subject of a financial levy. A final decision from the EU is expected this summer and, whichever way it goes, it will have a significant effect on the market’s perception of self-adhesive labelling. It is, however, FINAT’s opinion that, without its empowering release liner, the self-adhesive label’s overarching package of benefits—versatility, flexibility, accurate, clean, fast label dispensing (sometimes in multiples in the one machine pass)—would not be achievable.