“The Label Life tool delivers reliable and easy to understand data to guide sustainable decision-making, based on the most comprehensive lifecycle assessment (LCA) capabilities in the industry. Performed in accordance with internationally recognized ISO 14040/44 standards, UPM Raflatac’s LCA helps understand the environmental performance of labelstock products in terms of carbon, water, energy and the end-of-life impacts of liner recycling. It has been developed in cooperation with PE International and is consistent with the methodology used by major brand owners to evaluate their own environmental impacts,” explained Robert Taylor, director – environment, UPM Raflatac.

Asked if there are efforts to use bio-based raw materials to give a further thrust to its continuing claims of becoming a sustainable company, he said, “We are looking at bio-based raw materials. However, it is still in its nascent stages and would take some more time to be actualised.” He, however, added that UPM had already contemplating to replace its oil-based adhesives with wood-based ones.

UPM also introduced several new products at the show. Raflex Pro Clear is a new 50-micron MDO film targeted at the personal care labelling segment. It brings a no-label look to flexible and squeezable containers, and Raflex Pro White has high opacity as a foundation for quality decoration. According to Jussi Oksanen, vice president - film and special business, UPM Raflatac EMEA, these MDO films offer high stiffness for productive label dispensing, good conformability on contoured packaging, and lasting squeezability.
 

“On a thin PET23 release liner, Raflex Pro offers a 40% reduction in thickness and grammage compared to conventional PE85 on HD70. PET23 is a robust choice for running at high speeds and in humid conditions, without downtime from web breaks,” he explained.

The company also introduced its RP 30 XTRA adhesive which is compatible with a wide range of WSA paper facestocks. Also, RP 30W is a new wash-off adhesive for returnable bottle applications. UPM claims that it retains good wash-off performance following a variety of storage conditions for used bottles. In addition, targeting the packaged food market, UPM has introduced Raflacoat Fit PEFC range of products. Raflacoat Fit PEFC is available with three liner options. The HG65 and HG45 glassine liners are PEFC-certified like the label face. The ProLiner PP30 option reduces the labelstock thickness to increase productivity and to provide better performance in high-speed applications and humid conditions.

“Thermal Eco Fit PEFC is a fit-for-purpose solution for packaging films and most common cardboards in short-life labelling. Laminate structure in these two products is 17% thinner, meaning more labels per roll, 17% fewer roll changes and possibility to move to longer reel lengths both in printing and in labelling. The HG45 liner is lighter than HG65, which results 20% less liner waste and a comparable reduction in landfill costs,” explained Oksanen.