HERMA Certifies Seven Label Materials for Cold-Wash PP Packaging Recycling

Photo Credit: HERMA

HERMA announced on October 26 that seven of its self-adhesive label materials have received certification for removal from rigid polypropylene (PP) packaging during cold-water washing. The certification, issued by the independent cyclos-HTP Institute, covers six PP film materials and one polyethylene (PE) film material. HERMA said it believes it is the first supplier to obtain certification confirming this performance for labels used on rigid PP packaging.

The certification follows testing under the CHI Recyclability Standard developed by cyclos-HTP, taking into account Category 12 of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The tests confirmed that the label materials can be completely released from rigid PP packaging during cold washing at 40°C. Removing labels during recycling is important because printing inks carried by labels can contaminate recycled material if they remain in the processing stream.

PP packaging is widely used in food containers, including yoghurt pots and delicatessen packaging, as well as cosmetics and logistics applications. However, recycling PP packaging with self-adhesive labels presents a separation challenge. PP packaging and PP or PE label films, including their adhesives, have similar material densities, making separation difficult. HERMA said the newly certified materials address this issue by allowing labels to be removed during washing before subsequent separation processes.

The certified range includes six PP films: HERMAtherm PP el (grade 827), PP plus (829), PP white super tc (881), PP white light (884), PP 50 transparent super tc (886) and PP white 40 (892). The seventh material is HERMA PE white (850). HERMA identified its multilayer permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive 72Hpw as a key component in the certification of the PP films, while the PE film uses the adhesive 62Xpc, developed specifically for film applications.

The development comes as the PPWR increases attention on packaging recyclability and material design. By enabling labels and their associated printing inks to be removed during cold washing, the certified materials can help improve the quality of recycled PP. The certification provides packaging brands, packaging service providers and label printers with an independently assessed option for label applications on rigid PP packaging. However, the certification does not by itself establish actual recycling rates or guarantee that all packaging using these labels will be collected and recycled.

Source: HERMA

SUNSHINE Spotlight: HERMA’s certification highlights how label design and adhesive selection can affect the quality of recycled plastic. Removing labels and printing inks during cold washing can reduce contamination in the PP recycling stream, showing that packaging components beyond the main container also play a role in material recovery. As European packaging rules place greater emphasis on recyclability, solutions that address these separation challenges may become increasingly relevant to packaging manufacturers and recyclers.