Green Bay Packaging's Coated Products Operations has received The Association of Plastic Recyclers’ (APR) Critical Guidance Recognition for two new pressure sensitive labelstocks. These label materials are part of Green Bay Packaging’s GreenCycle product line. 

The two label structures are 1.85 mil clear and 2.4 mil white BOPP films combined with the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recyclable adhesive, 776S. These GreenCycle label structures completely wash off from PET containers during recycling. This results in a cleaner PET flake for future use in recycled content products. 

“We are excited to offer brands advanced materials that meet their labeling needs while still helping them achieve their sustainability goals,” says Justin Merritt, senior vice president of Green Bay Packaging’s Coated Product Operations. “Our GreenCycle label structures contain an adhesive that cleanly separates from PET packaging to help recyclers eliminate potential contamination.”

The APR Critical Guidance Recognition is presented to those suppliers that have developed new products and technology that are compatible with recycling. To qualify for the recognition, Green Bay Packaging’s GreenCycle label structures passed two different rounds of testing: one with the labelstocks on PET clamshells, the other with PET bottles.

This testing simulated the conditions that take place in the actual recycling process. During recycling the PET is washed, and when APR Critical Guidance Recognized label materials are used, the adhesive removes cleanly from the PET. In the wash, the BOPP labels float and the PET sinks. That sink/float method allows the labels, with the adhesive, to be easily removed from the PET flake. This results in a higher quality and greater yield of clean PET flake.