Page 108 - Packaging News Magazine Nov-Dec2020

108
PACKAGING INNOVATION | www.packagingnews.com.au | November–December 2020
A clean recycling solution
Various studies show that the importance of sustainable packaging resonates
strongly with consumers
and also companies, such as Henkel Australia Adhesive Technologies.
ABOUT 70 per cent of consumers would pay more for sustainable products. Some 90 per cent of con- sumers feel that companies must take care of the planet, according to The New Sustainability: Regeneration 2018, a report from
Wunderman Thompson Intelligence. This consumer perception is in line with where Henkel sees its own respon- sibility as a supplier and brand owner.
As consumers believe there is value in everything, Henkel believes this value can be reused by rethink- ing processes, redesigning products and making resources easily recover- able with smart adhesives solutions. The adhesives used in packaging typ- ically make up no more than five per- cent of the total weight – yet, their properties can make the difference when it comes to the overall recy- clability of the material.
For example, Henkel offers a water- based pressure-sensitive adhesive solution with excellent wash-off char- acteristics. This means it can be removed from the PET package cleanly and easily. The process of
rotating, relabelling and reusing con- tainers is made much simpler with a label that washes off with ease and leaves surfaces residue-free. Henkel pairs water-washable adhesives with selected label faces to cover countless rotational application needs. Wash-off adhesives also help support the circu- lar economy by enabling plastic labels to float off when washed, supporting the recycling process and facilitating the reuse of plastic containers.
“These adhesives enable the clean removal of the label, which means the material separation in the recy- cling process is more efficient, result- ing in high-quality recovered materi- als,” said Roda Luna, business unit manager for packaging and consumer
Wash-off adhesives enable the clean removal of the label, making the material separation in the recycling process more efficient.
goods adhesives at Henkel Australia. “Henkel’s wash-off adhesives, such as Aquence PS 3682 RE and PS 6094 RE, are able to undergo common PET recycling processes without contami- nating any of the PET flake by-prod- ucts. During the washing process, the polypropylene labels float, while the denser PET flakes sink, allowing more of these valuable flakes to be recov- ered without contamination and con- verted into new PET packaging mate- rials that reduce waste and improve
the plastic recycling process.” Henkel continually delivers adhe- sive solutions that actively support brands accelerate their ambitious recyclability targets by supporting
the circular economy. ■