UPM Adhesive Materials secures recyclass certification for RW85C adhesive 

FINLAND – Finnish label specialist UPM Adhesive Materials has obtained certification from RecyClass for its RW85C general-purpose adhesive. 

According to a company statement, this approval confirms the adhesive’s releasability in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling streams, targeting natural and white containers.

The certification also covers its alkali and water releasable features for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling.

This step allows label materials using RW85C to integrate smoothly into standard recycling processes without compromising output quality. 

Santeri Marjamäki, manager of the Ecosystem unit for Europe, Middle East, India and Africa at UPM Adhesive Materials, noted in a statement that the certification enables producers to demonstrate how their labels support HDPE and PET recycling. 

He added that selecting appropriate adhesives helps maintain the purity of natural and white recyclate, allowing brand owners to validate their packaging through RecyClass.

The approval extends UPM Adhesive Materials’ series of prior recognitions for recycling-compatible technologies. 

Przemysław Sawa, director of Consumer Label Solutions for the same region, explained that the company collaborates with RecyClass to develop adhesives that comply with evolving rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. 

He indicated that these solutions assist brands in achieving recyclability goals amid rising demands for circular systems.

In related developments, UPM Adhesive Materials announced in July a multimillion-dollar investment exceeding US$10 million at its Mills River facility in North Carolina. 

The funds support installation of proprietary coating lines to expand production of specialized label materials by 20 percent annually.

Adding to these efforts, a report from earlier this year details UPM Adhesive Materials’ achievement of a RecyClass first for its multipurpose UV acrylic adhesive on polyethylene films.

This endorsement, granted in March 2025, verifies compatibility with colored and natural PE flexible packaging streams, marking the initial technology approval in that category for any pressure-sensitive laminate producer. 

Katja Kivelä, business director for Food and HPC in Films and Specials for EMEIA, stated that the innovation provides verified options for PE labels used in closures and information carriers on flexible packs.

These certifications come as global recycling rates for plastics hover around 9 percent, with Europe aiming for 55 percent by 2030 under EU directives. 

UPM Adhesive Materials operates 12 factories worldwide, supplying self-adhesive papers and films to converters and brands focused on reducing waste. 

The RW85C’s dual-stream approval equips manufacturers to handle mixed container types efficiently, cutting contamination risks during sorting and washing.

With RecyClass’s testing protocols, brands can now specify RW85C in designs for verified performance, potentially lowering lifecycle costs by up to 15 percent through better material recovery.

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