Sustainability continues to be one of the key drivers for companies throughout the supply chain. From suppliers to brands, most companies are striving to operate in a more environmentally-friendly way. In fact, many leading label and package printing companies have set lofty goals for sustainability in an effort to protect the environment and help curb climate change.

However, there is a lot to know about sustainability – and recycling, in particular. Making a positive corporate statement is a good step, but instituting real change is the hard part. Plus, no matter how sustainable a material, the end user must also comply in this process.

FLEXcon, which has developed a wide range of sustainable materials, is actively trying to dispel confusion surrounding the recycling process. Even the best and most sustainable materials can still get sent to the landfill. Meanwhile, materials that are not recyclable are often erroneously included for the recycling process.

“Some important factors consumers should know about the recyclability of packaging is that not all packaging is recyclable,” explains Dan Riendeau, strategic business unit manager at FLEXcon. “Cardboard and aluminum cans are, for the most part, recyclable, but not all plastics are. The most commonly recycled plastics are PET and HDPE. Think of soda bottles and milk jugs. Certain plastics, such as polypropylene or polystyrene, customers must check with their local recycling program as to how to recycle them.”

Most brands include information on their labels for how to recycle the container when the consumer is done using it, which helps minimize confusion. Regarding the labels, materials are an important consideration. “There is a misconception that paper is more sustainable than film,” adds Riendeau. “That is not always the case, however. For PET and HDPE containers, paper labels actually become a contaminant, making them detrimental to the recycling process. The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has called this out in their design guides.”

Plastics are another matter altogether. According to Riendeau, one of the largest hurdles is that there are numerous different types of plastics and each one gets recycled differently.

“For a PET container labeled with a PP film, the adhesive must wash off so that the label particles can float to the top while the PET flakes sink to the bottom, effectively separating the two so that clean rPET can be collected,” he says. “With HDPE containers, however, it’s a bit simpler – by using a PE film on an HDPE container, both the container and the label can be recycled together to form rHDPE resin. Understanding the different recycling processes is critical to effectively producing label products that will support the recycle stream. Knowing the anticipated recycle path can be the difference between the next big idea and a concept that may never gain traction.”

These considerations are increasingly critical, especially as our industry places a microscope on materials and their impact on the planet. This trend will only gain in relevance, and it has the potential to shape the landscape of labels and packaging well into the future.

“The drive for sustainability is about consumers wanting to do the right thing for the environment,” comments Riendeau. “They recognize that products they purchase and the packaging they come in have an impact on the environment and need to change. In fact, research shows that consumers are willing to pay slightly more for sustainable products. Consumer brands, packaging companies and suppliers have responded with products that facilitate recycling such as FLEXcon’s optiFLEX ecoFOCUS products for PET and HDPE container labeling. This is more than just a trend. It will be the way of the future for packaging. Those companies along the value chain that do not adapt will be left behind, and the companies that change and deliver what consumers need will thrive.”