FINLAND – UPM Specialty Papers has announced a collaboration with adhesive tape specialist Lohmann to promote the recycling of paper liners in the tape industry.
As part of this partnership, UPM will provide its existing closed-loop paper liner recycling solution, known as LinerLoop, to assist Lohmann in recycling paper liners.
LinerLoop, launched by UPM in 2018, along with other paper and paperboard recycling streams, serves as a convenient solution to help Lohmann achieve its goal of enhancing the recyclability of liner waste.
UPM Technology Director, Mikko Rissanen, said, “We are delighted to have been able to support Lohmann in removing obstacles for the recycling of paper liners in the tape industry.”
Recycling paper liners is claimed to be a ‘difficult’ process within the sector.
One of the main technical obstacles to achieving high-yield recycling of adhesive tape liners, as stated by UPM, is the predominant use of conventional siliconized release liners in the tape industry, which have a darker brown color.
On the contrary, the usual color of glassine is either white or a lighter shade. This means that recycling darker shades of glassine grades in the same stream could potentially contaminate the recycled pulp.
UPM also noted that mass recycling of darker shades is not economically feasible because they are only available in small volumes and require separate recycling.
To overcome these challenges, Lohmann is undertaking this effort, which is also in line with its own sustainability strategy to promote environmentally friendly adhesive technologies.
UPM and other companies are already offering white liner ranges. Therefore, Lohmann has introduced its biobased and solvent-free tape, called DuploCOLL ECO, with a new white paper liner to ensure high quality and consistent recycling.
Lohmann’s scouting director, Evert Smit, said, “We were aware that the recycling of liners needs to be included in our sustainability action plan.
“We wanted to make the first move and set a new standard for our industry and now, in cooperation with UPM Specialty Papers, we hope that others in the tape industry will follow suit and promote sustainability as a collective.”
Meanwhile, in September, UPM introduced two certified industrially and home compostable label face papers in an effort to comply with the compostability and recyclability requirements of the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
UPM LabelCoat is a high-opacity, multi-purpose C1S label paper that can be used with a wide range of substrates.
It is recommended for flexo printing and can be customized with HP Indigo printing due to its semi-gloss finish. It performs well in various moisture conditions and temperatures.
Meanwhile, UPM LabelCoat Prime is another high-opacity, high-performance, and semi-gloss CS1 label paper.
This solution is specifically designed for UV-flexo printing. It is available in a variety of finishes and can be applied to pressure-sensitive materials for labeling products and providing information.
