Previously, Avery Dennison’s standard adhesive film labels offered limited compatibility with the coloured HDPE recycling stream. Seeking to enhance this, Avery Dennison requested an evaluation by the RecyClass HDPE Technical Committee, which assessed multiple PE and PP solutions within their film label portfolio. Following the assessment, RecyClass confirmed that these labels meet European industrial recycling standards for HDPE containers across white, coloured, and natural plastic streams.

RecyClass, known for its work on recyclability evaluation protocols, creates scientific testing methods that underpin Design for Recycling (DfR) Guidelines for all plastic packaging. Recently, RecyClass revised its HDPE evaluation protocol to factor in all stages of the recycling process, such as the grinding process, which impacts label removability in HDPE recycling. 

Avery Dennison supported these revisions, emphasising friction rather than temperature as a key criterion for label removability—insights backed by a semi-industrial trial conducted with The National Test Centre Circular Plastics in early 2024.

This approval represents a valuable opportunity for Avery Dennison’s clients facing updates under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). FMCG brands can now rely on Avery Dennison’s standard film label solutions for compatibility with recycling standards, eliminating the need for alternative labelling solutions. 

Rob Groen, marketing director for films at Avery Dennison, said, “This is a great result for us. The approval applies to the majority of our film labels that are typically used for rigid HDPE containers and proves that our labels can better contribute to a more circular economy.”