To make your HDPE and PP packaging for
consumer goods as sustainable as possible,
your choice of labeling is critical.
Complex and evolving guidelines and legislative requirements can make choosing the right label a challenge, but our sustainability experts are here to help.
On this page we give you guidance on how to choose pressure-sensitive labels for HDPE packaging and PP packaging that enable recyclability, comply with current guidelines, reduce your environmental footprint, and empower your business to achieve its sustainability goals.
HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is a strong yet lightweight form of rigid plastic used in food and beverage containers, personal care products, cleaning products, and more. One of the most widely used types of plastic, it is non-biodegradable and must be recycled. HDPE is typically recycled in non-packaging products with growing investments in infrastructure to develop a closed-loop system.
PP (polypropylene) is a durable yet lightweight and versatile form of rigid plastic used in food containers, home and personal care applications, medical applications, and more. Another one of the most widely used plastics, PP is highly recyclable and is typically turned into non-packaging products with growing investments in infrastructure to develop a closed-loop system.
How to choose labels for circular design throughout a package’s lifetime
Labels need to remain attached and legible for the duration of a product’s life. Conditions and duration vary from one application to the next and determine a label’s specific performance requirements. Factors to consider include the end use for the packaging; temperature and moisture level; product lifetime; food contact; printing technology; and aesthetics and branding.
To help reduce the environmental impact of packaging and comply with design for recycling guidelines, labels must be designed with circularity in mind. This can be achieved by using EcoDesign principles to create labels that enable recycling and reuse, incorporate recycled content, reduce resource consumption, and are sourced responsibly.
Sustainable solutions we offer for HDPE and PP substrates
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Sustainability Goal:
Recyclability (based on European design for recycling guidelines)
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Label specifications
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AD solution
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Certificates
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RecyClass
guidelines* |
Filmic labels (PE or PP films)
must be mono-material with the substrate; adhesives must wash off at 40degrees** |
RecyClass certified labels
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Local
guidelines |
Requirements vary within
the EU. For example, in some countries, paper labels are approved. |
Paper with wash-off adhesive labels are Cyclos approved
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Sustainability Goal:
Reduce carbon footprint
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Label specifications
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AD solution
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Certificates
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Reduced
material use |
Labels made with less natural
resources, such as oil, water, and/or trees*** |
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Recycled
content |
Labels made with materials from
post-consumer or post-industrial waste streams or with bio-circular content*** |
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Reuse
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Labels that can be easily and cleanly removed from packaging
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* PPWR will set harmonized guidelines in 2028; the European Committee for Standardization will publish guidelines in 2025
** “Adhesives must wash off at 40 degrees” to be updated in July 2024
*** These factors, as well as weight, country of origin, and more, influence extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees.
Check your local guidelines for details.
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