- The PE label made of 100% post consumer recyclate (PCR) wins the German Packaging Award in the sustainability category.
- Equipped with a HERMA wash-off adhesive, this label opens up new ways of reprocessing plastic packaging to a high standard.
- This pioneering innovation is the result of successful cooperation with schäfer-etiketten and Polifilm.
Two winners in a row: After the specialist for self-adhesive technology HERMA had already been awarded the German Packaging Prize in 2019 for the InNo-Liner system and a PE film made of 50% post-consumer recycled material (PCR), a label made of HERMA adhesive material once again convinced the jury in the sustainability category this year. The PE label developed in collaboration with schäfer-etiketten and Polifilm even consists of 100% post-consumer recyclate, which was obtained from PE packaging from the collection of recyclable materials. It is probably the first of its kind worldwide. This process allows mountains of empty packaging to be consistently recycled for high-quality new plastic products. The HERMA wash-off adhesive for labels 62Rpw also removes a major hurdle for genuine recycling of polyolefin packaging (PE/PP). It ensures that labels can be washed off completely without leaving any residue - and thus sorted out of the reusable material flow together with the adhesive and printing inks. Until now, there has been no practical solution for polyolefin packaging.
Fuel for the recycling economy
The PE label made of 100% PCR developed by HERMA, schäfer-etiketten and Polifilm opens up new avenues for an optimum material cycle - provided that the recyclers also switch from cold to hot washing for PE/PP. What is already a matter of course for PET bottles today should also be put into practice for PE/PP in order to promote recycling management. The PE label made of 100% post-consumer recycled material makes this possible and is thus an important contribution to sustainability, also in the eyes of the jurors of the German Packaging Award. The award under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Economics and Energy is the largest European exhibition of packaging. The organiser is the German Packaging Institute e.V. (dvi). The independent jury consisting of trade associations, companies, trade and research awards prizes for future-oriented developments and solutions for packaging every year. In 2020 the winning field included 38 outstanding innovations from Germany, Austria, Great Britain and Switzerland. According to the German Packaging Institute, sustainability is one of the most important trends in the packaging sector. By developing innovative products, HERMA has been contributing to progress in this area for many years. "We are proud that our efforts to make packaging and recycling processes more sustainable are being noticed", says Dr. Thomas Baumgärtner, Managing Director and Head of the Adhesive Materials Division at HERMA. "Our focus will continue to be on solutions that promote the conscious use of resources and recyclable materials".
