Sustainable Plastics - November/December 2023 - 27

association
Fig. 2. Converting tape waste into oil via pyrolysis
Image credit: Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG
erLoop compatible " label to promote
closed-loop recycling of
release papers used in self-adhesive
labels and tapes.
Recently, UPM also announced
a partnership with
Lohmann to promote design
for recycling in the tape industry.
As part of the collaboration,
which builds on UPM LinerLoop,
the two companies aim
to address the challenge of liner
recycling in the tape industry.
Avery Dennison's program
for recycling used paper and
filmic label liners, AD Circular,
also provides collection services.
The web-based app enables
scheduling waste pickup
and also provides data and
analytics - amount of liner material
sent for recycling, CO2
emissions avoided, etc.
Afera, through AFSP, has
also undertaken collaborative
actions to support sustainable
waste management of
tape liner waste. Some of the
initiatives taken by the waste
management workstream of
the sustainability project are
the following:
Colour harmonisation of
paper release liners
Paper release liners come in
various colours, from white, yellow,
light brown to dark brown.
While the colour of the release
liner has no bearing on performance,
it does impact the
end-of-life recycling options
(open-loop or closed-loop).
The mixing of dark and light
glassine liners, for instance,
produces dark specks on the
surface of the recycled paper.
This is explained in Afera's position
paper, " Colour of paper
release liner of adhesive tapes:
Impact on material circularity " ,
published in June 2023 in an
eff ort to improve release liner
waste management and boost
material circularity.
Recyclers database
Building a wider network of
waste collectors and recyclers
across Europe is an important
step. Currently, AFSP participants
are conducting interviews
with short-listed collectors and
recyclers to gather information
regarding current practices,
specifically the following:
* Type and minimum volume of
waste collected.
* Pre-requisites for acceptance
of waste materials.
* Geographical region covered.
The future actions also include
understanding the role
third-party waste management
platforms and advanced recycling
technologies can play in
supporting waste management
of tape waste.
Advanced recycling
and reuse: technology
advancements
The industry is also keeping a
close watch on new technology
developments that support
the transition to a circular
economy. There is currently
much interest in understanding
the role chemical recycling
can play in the tape industry.
In this space, Lohmann GmbH
has successfully completed
testing to convert their tape
waste into oil via pyrolysis.
In addition to recycling, multiple
re-use of release liners
looks to be another interesting
option. Case in point is the reuse
of silicone release paper
thanks to a new cleaning technology
developed by Techlan
Ltd. Their patented cleaning
process, which uses no water
or chemicals, removes all
contamination but does not
damage the silicone release
coating. This minimises waste
generation, diverts traditionally
single-use release paper from
ending up in landfills and enables
multiple re-use.
How to circularise
adhesive tape
At Afera, the main aim is to create
an ecosystem that fosters
collaboration across the value
chain - tape manufacturers,
converters, end users, recyclers,
etc. - not only to manage
liner waste but also to enable
the circularity of tapes overall.
A workshop on " How to circularise
adhesive tape " was
held during this year's Afera
Annual Conference in Malta to
map the circularity challenges,
readiness and potential collaborative
solutions for diff erent
types of tapes. The aim was to
clarify - through an interactive
session - possible improvements
in all companies, particularly
in terms of collection, recycling,
reuse or reducing the
use of materials. The insights
gathered during this session
will shape the discussions going
forward, both at a company
level and at an industry level.
As a not-for-profit trade organisation
with over 60 years'
experience, Afera supports the
European adhesive tape value
chain in their sustainability
journey and facilitates the promotion
of adhesive tapes as
sustainable solutions by:
* Raising awareness regarding
the role of tapes as sustainable
solutions by reducing
weight, optimizing
resource use and improving
recyclability, repairability
and reusability of
the products incorporating
them.
* Providing a platform for sharing
technical knowledge,
standardised life cycle
analyses, relevant political
and legal information, and
support in government and
NGO relations.
* Advocating for policy development
on sustainability
and other environmental,
social, regulatory and technical
issues in the common
interest of the European
adhesive tape industry.
Afera and its members contribute
to the UN Sustainable Development
Goals 4, 9, 12 and 16.
References
* https://www.c4g.fi/
* https://www.upmspecialtypapers.
com/responsibility/release-liner-recycling/
*
https://www.upmspecialtypapers.
com/news-and-stories/2023/10/
upm-specialty-papers-andlohmann-promote-design-forrecycling-in-the-tape-industry/
*
https://adcircular.averydennison.
com/adcircular/
* https://techlanltd.co.uk/case_studies/techlan-and-gts-flexibles/
November/December
2023
27
Sustainable Plastics - November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Plastics - November/December 2023
