Labels made from grass or recycled coffee cups? How the European Green Deal is changing product labelling

As businesses and consumers look for ways to reduce their environmental impact, product labelling is inevitably changing. Producers of consumer goods, both small and large, are increasingly focusing on sustainable business development and looking for ways to label and pack their products more sustainably. As a result, product labels and packaging is one of the areas that is undergoing significant change in line with the European Green Deal.

Self-adhesive labels made from grass

Grass paper for self-adhesive labels is an innovative and more environmentally friendly way to label products. This paper is made from a natural, rapidly renewable resource - grass. Due to its high environmental performance, adhesive labels made from this paper have been quickly adopted by the food industry, beverages and cosmetics manufacturers, just like Salt of the Earth Natural Deodorant did, in Western Europe. The main advantage of grass paper is that it can be produced with a lower environmental impact. In addition, grass grows quickly and does not require large amounts of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers or pesticides. The use of such paper can reduce tree felling and thus contribute to the preservation of forests and the reduction of CO2e emissions.

Industrial production waste - for the production of raw materials for labels

If making adhesive label paper from grass seems unbelievable, the production of labelstock using waste from industrial production is even more surprising. For example, paper for self-adhesive labels can be produced using waste grapes from the wine industry. Apple waste from the juice industry is also used to produce paper for adhesive labels. Dust from marble mining can be used to produce paper-like raw material for adhesive labels as well.? Waste from wood processing (pulp production) is converted into clear or white films for adhesive labels. Industrial production waste can be used in its entirety in the production of labelstock, or it can form part of the raw material, ranging from 5% to 80%, depending on the nature of the ingredients.

Although these label solutions are still in their infancy, their development shows how the labelling industry is changing. The use of waste in the production of label materials not only allows the use of renewable resources, but also extends the life cycle of natural products by turning waste into useful raw materials.

Recycling the non-recyclable: labels from used disposable coffee cups

While the use of recycled paper in product labelling is hardly surprising anymore, recycling single-use coffee cups into paper for self-adhesive labels was hard to imagine until recently. Today, the technology is in place to separate the plastic layer of used disposable coffee cups from the paper and to recycle the latter. Recycled coffee cups are used to produce a raw material for labels that is at least 25% recycled coffee cup paper and the remaining 75% recycled paper. Recycled plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PET films are also added to the range of recycled raw materials. For instance, MB Pilnas ?auk?tas Bioguto has chosen to label their products with recycled content PE film labels, as well as recycled paper and dissolvable labels.

Cutting-edge sustainable labelling solutions in Lithuania

‘Aurika‘, a label and packaging manufacturer operating in Kaunas, is expanding its range of self-adhesive labels to include sustainable labels in response to the changing business environment. The converter actively seeks and implements innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of label production. By using recycled paper, biodegradable materials, plant-based raw materials and other sustainable solutions, Aurika strives to help FMCG manufacturers achieve their environmental goals and reduce the environmental impact of packaging. In order to make a sustainable and lasting difference, the company can actually calculate the environmental impact of a specific adhesive label using the certified international ClimateCalc methodology. ‘Aurika‘ is a certified ClimateCalc user. The environmental impact assessment of a label usually becomes the basis for setting targets for reducing its environmental impact and measuring the change. By combining progressive methods of label production and environmental impact measurement, Aurika's experts aim to make a practical contribution to a greener tomorrow.