VIDEO: Wash-off labels set to boost bottle recycling

Wash-off labels for glass and PET bottles have been developed to help brand owners maximise opportunities for material recycling of their products.


The Fasson label adhesives, developed by packaging technologist Avery Dennison, are designed to be water washable enabling easier removal, thus delivering higher yield and material quality at the reprocessing stage.

When used in combination with PET bottles, both the bottle and label are shredded before the resulting mixture is soaked in a hot alkaline solution. The label then separates from the PET chips, due to a difference in density.

During this part of the recycling process, the washable adhesive stays with the shredded label flakes, allowing 100% recycling of the PET material.

For glass bottles, the label’s two film layers expand at different rates in a hot washer, making the label curl for easy removal. Both the adhesive and the inks remain on the label, which allows the label to wash off without contaminating the water in the washer.

Avery Dennison says the labels are suitable for body and neck labelling of both light and dark containers, as well as bottled water in glass and large containers of juices and smoothies in recyclable PET bottles.

Maxine Perella

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