Drupa 2024: Henkel presents sustainable product innovations

From flexible packaging to paper packaging and speciality tapes and labels, Henkel offers a broad portfolio of adhesives and coatings to meet the requirements of the packaging and printing industry. At Drupa, Henkel will focus on its developments within circularity, carbon footprint reduction and innovation. 

Enabling circularity

Henkel is committed to actively supporting a circular economy by making it possible to return high-quality materials into the loop after use – turning waste back into valuable resources. The adhesives used in packages typically only make up no more than five percent of the total weight – yet, their properties can actually make the difference when it comes to the overall recyclability of the material. Henkel’s RE range of adhesives and coatings are designed for recycling and that improves both the recyclability of packaging and makes it possible to use recycled content in new packaging.

One of the product highlights is Aquence PS 3017 RE, a water-based acrylic adhesive that was developed for olefin-based film labels on washable PET bottles. It makes the process of removing the labels from the bottles easier and more energy efficient, while the purity and value of the recycled PET bottle are also increased. Another one is polyolefin-based extrudable hotmelt solution for reclosable lids in food packaging with easy opening and lasting reclosability. It has the lowest odour and superior transparency for a better customer experience and is compatible with PET and PE which allows better recyclability.

Reducing carbon footprint 

Henkel’s ECO Range includes both direct bio and mass-balanced adhesives, optimising the carbon footprint of end products and packaging. Additionally, the company will highlight its functional coatings, which enable the shift toward mono-material packaging designs. Other topics will include low-temperature adhesives and the company’s expertise in lifecycle assessments. 

Leading innovations 

Visitors at Drupa will also get insights on Henkel’s EPIX technology platform, which is designed to bring functional barrier protection to paper packaging applications. The company will also showcase functional coatings for flexible packaging as well as its expert position on food safety. Latest advances in UV pressure-sensitive adhesives will also take centre stage, and visitors can learn more about how this technology can drive both energy savings and lower emissions. The company will also debut its progress in smart equipment and service solutions. 

Expert talks

At the open platform “touchpoint packaging”, Damien Fourcade, Sustainability Manager Packaging at Henkel, and Martin Hilgenstock, Senior Manager in Business Development at Henkel, will explore the dynamic landscape of the packaging industry on May 31. They will shed light on how Henkel can be a partner in the design phase of packaging to enable recyclability for all materials and support the need for faster market launches. In their presentation, they will outline strategies for possible collaborations across the value chain as well as new solutions that combine both sustainability and company growth.

“To live up to our ‘Respect, Rethink, Reinvent’ claim, we work with leading providers in the packaging industry – from machine suppliers to material suppliers. Innovations are created in dialogue with our partners,” says Richard Scholta, director marketing and strategy packaging at Henkel. “Out of respect for humanity and the environment, we are questioning the status quo and working together to implement numerous projects aimed at developing pioneering packaging solutions. And all without compromising on efficiency or performance.”