Recycled Labels: A Material Choice That Truly Matters for the Environment
When a business decides to switch to recycled labels, the first question isn’t “which recycled paper to choose” but rather “what are our sustainability goals.” There are at least three distinct goals, and each one leads to a different material choice: reducing the use of virgin materials (using recycled paper or PCR film), ensuring the packaging can be recycled after use (choosing labels made from the same material family as the primary packaging), or reducing the total amount of material used (switching to linerless labels or thinner labels). No single type of recycled label can fulfill all three goals at once, so businesses need to define their priorities before making a selection.
Material Options for Recycled Labels: Paper, Film, and Adhesive
Post-Consumer Recycled Paper: Paper containing 30% to 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Advantages: directly reduces the use of virgin paper and is eligible for FSC Recycled certification.
Disadvantages: surface is not as uniform as virgin paper, which may affect print quality for fine details and color accuracy.
Best suited for brands pursuing a natural, artisanal aesthetic or organic product lines.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper: Not necessarily recycled, but sourced from responsibly managed forests. Print quality is on par with standard virgin paper. Ideal for brands that value supply chain transparency without compromising on print quality.
PCR Film (Post-Consumer Recycled film): PET or PP film manufactured from post-consumer recycled plastic. It retains the mechanical properties of virgin film: transparency, water resistance, and heat resistance, while reducing the use of virgin plastic. Suitable for products that require durability and water resistance but also aim to improve their sustainability profile.
Keo wash-off: Loại keo có khả năng tách hoàn toàn khỏi bao bì trong quy trình rửa công nghiệp, cho phép chai lọ được tái chế sạch. Đặc biệt quan trọng với ngành đồ uống sử dụng chai PET hoặc thủy tinh tái sử dụng.
How to Choose Recycled Labels Based on Your Business’s Specific Goals
If the goal is to reduce your carbon footprint: prioritize recycled paper or PCR film, as producing from recycled materials consumes less energy than virgin materials. If the goal is to ensure the packaging is recyclable: choose labels from the same material family as the primary packaging (PET labels for PET bottles, paper labels for paper cartons) and wash-off adhesive. If the goal is to communicate sustainability to consumers: prioritize materials with clear certifications (FSC, PCR) so you can display legitimate certification logos on your products.
Hirich advises businesses on selecting the right material-adhesive-finishing combination to meet specific sustainability goals, while ensuring the label still fully satisfies technical requirements: adhesion strength, water/heat resistance, and compatibility with existing labeling machines. True sustainability is achieved when a label is both green and performs flawlessly in real-world conditions.
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