Why we’re so passionate about linerless

Label waste has been a challenge for the labeling industry for decades. Each year, millions of tons of label waste are sent to landfills and incinerators. Recycling programs like AD Circular and industry efforts like CELAB can help reduce label waste. But the best solution — for our industry and for the planet — is to eliminate liners altogether.

To tackle this challenge, we’ve been developing a new linerless platform that also allows us to meet our own sustainability goals. Those include a commitment to reducing GHG emissions — such as our pledge to reduce emissions in our supply chain by 30% (compared to our 2018 baseline) and our aspiration to reach “net zero” carbon emissions by 2050. Eliminating label liners significantly reduces the consumption of materials, fossil fuels and energy as well as lowers related carbon emissions in production and across the supply chain.

Labels “born linerless” from start to finish

Our ultimate goal is to offer our customers labels that are linerless from the very beginning. To achieve this, we've been experimenting with different technologies. Our latest, sustainable linerless solution for variable information (VI) labels is AD XeroLinr DT™ — our new FSC-certified and phenol-free direct thermal (DT) linerless label. We're also in the process of developing high performance linerless decorative labels that will be in the hands of converters and brands in the very near future.

How we’re helping converters and brands

Labels with liners aren’t disappearing right away, but linerless labels are definitely the future. Making the transition will be a journey for converters and brands — and for us too.

For those who want them, we will continue to offer standard labels with liners. At the same time, by providing technical assistance to converters as well as supplying inexpensive applicator conversion kits and expertise to brands, we will support all of our customers and end users to make the switch over time to more efficient, less wasteful linerless labels. We’re excited about these new sustainable developments and are always here to help. 

Ultimately, it all comes down to a simple but critical goal — together, let’s make our entire industry and those we serve more sustainable.