BASF Introduces Recycling-Friendly Label Adhesives

BASF develops new adhesives for labels that do not hinder paper and cardboard recycling. BASF has achieved a breakthrough in developing adhesives that do not interfere with the recycling of transport boxes such as corrugated cardboard and cardboard boxes with coated paper labels, using Acronal RCF 3705 or Acronal RCF 3706. Both adhesives have been approved by the "Papiertechnische Stiftung" (PTS) for this property. PTS is a German research and service institute that supports companies across all sectors in the development and application of modern fiber-based solutions. The institute conducts material testing for paper and cardboard packaging. Uwe Düsterwald, Project Manager for Sustainability in Adhesives at BASF, said: "As we work to achieve climate neutrality worldwide, greater circularity and more efficient recycling are essential. BASF has made a clear contribution to more sustainable labeling, particularly in the logistics sector, by developing the recycling-friendly adhesives Acronal RCF 3705 and Acronal RCF 3706." In addition to the automotive and food sectors, logistics is another sector where demand for pressure-sensitive labels is high, and over the past few years, shipping labels have represented the fastest-growing share of the market. This situation is confirmed by market reports such as Alexander Watson Associates (AWA) "European Labeling and Product Decoration 2017" and "Global Annual Review Labeling and Product Decoration 2020". This trend was reinforced during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 by rapid growth in e-commerce and mail-order sales, which currently account for approximately 15% of label demand in Europe. These innovative adhesives solve a fundamental problem in paper and cardboard packaging recycling. While most adhesives used for paper labels interfere with the paper recycling process, the newly developed adhesives are easy to remove in the early stages of the process, allowing recycled paper or cardboard packaging to be reused and printed without any other problems. This solution confirms BASF's commitment to achieving a sustainable circular economy as outlined in the European Union's Green Deal. By implementing the Green Deal, the EU has set the goal of achieving climate neutrality in industry and society by 2050. To help achieve this goal, BASF became a founding member of the cross-industry coalition CELAB (Towards a Circular Economy for Labels) in 2020. The global network is working on solutions to reduce the environmental impact of the labeling industry and promote a circular economy for self-adhesive labels across all industries. As Thomas Schiele, Vice President of BASF Adhesives, Fiber Bonding and Paper Coating Chemicals, stated: "Continuously increasing packaging demand has made recyclability an important issue for the packaging industry. Steps must be taken not only with regard to packaging materials, but also with regard to the adhesives used. Our innovative adhesive technologies offer entirely new possibilities for a circular economy that works in both the packaging industry and many other sectors."   Source