• How to choose labels for PET packaging

 

 

 

Making the right label choice can ensure that your PET packaging is fully recyclable, while helping build a more circular economy and supporting your broader sustainability goals.

However, rapidly changing regulations can make choosing the right label a challenge. Our experts are here to help.

On this page, we will guide you through current PET guidelines to help you discover which pressure sensitive label solutions are best for your packaging needs. You will learn how requirements vary between PET bottles and trays and how making the right labeling choice can help you comply with regulations, increase your product’s recyclability and reduce your environmental footprint.

 

What is PET packaging?

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, which is a strong polymer that can be used for a variety of applications. PET packaging is most often used for food and beverage, both in bottle and tray format. PET bottles are also used for Home and Personal Care (HPC) packaging, while trays are only used for food products. PET is a highly recyclable substrate.

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Differences in recycling methods between PET bottles and trays

Pet bottles and trays are made with plastics of differing quality and different intrinsic viscosity (IV). Plastics used for PET bottles can be recycled into other bottles or used for other packaging formats. Trays, due to the quality of their original manufacturing materials, cannot be used in the production of new PET bottles. Due to the differences in IV, combining the two streams results in contamination, increases process costs and decreases usable yield. PET trays are generally more contaminated by content in comparison to PET bottles. Separation of the two PET materials is therefore essential.

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How to choose labels for circular design throughout a package’s lifetime

During life

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.

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End of life

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.

HDPE and PP

Sustainable solutions we offer for PET packaging

Here we outline how to choose the right label for your PET packaging, based on your sustainability goals.

Sustainability Goal:<br><span style="font-size: 25px; color: black;">Recyclability (based on European design for recycling guidelines)</span>
Sustainability Goal:
Recyclability (based on European design for recycling guidelines)
PET bottles
Label specifications
AD solution
Certificates
RecyClass
guidelines
PE, PP, or OPP labels with density of <1 g/cm³; Label adhesive should be alkali/water releasable at 60-80° Celcius; Removable labels must be printed with non-bleeding inks

EPBP
PE; PP; OPP labels all with density <1 g/cm³; Adhesives should be alkali/water releasable at 60-80° Celcius without reactivation*; Non toxic inks should be used that follow EUPIA Guidelines

PET trays
Label specifications
AD solution
Certificates
RecyClass
guidelines
Labels in PP, PE, OPP with density of <1 g/cm³, which are removable from tray without glue residue; Alkali/water soluble or alkali/water releasable adhesive at 70°C; All of closure systems components should be made of floating plastic; Foamed PET-based films should resist temperatures up to 90° Celcius

PET Core
Printed lidding films made with glue that does not hinder recycling; Adhesives with a 100% removing ratio with no residue

 

 

Sustainability Goal:

Reduced carbon footprint
Label specifications
AD solution
Certificates
Reduced
material use
Labels made with less natural resources, such as oil, water and/or trees**
Avery Dennison Carbon Footprinting Tool reports
Recycled
content
Labels made with materials from post-consumer or post-industrial waste streams or with bio-circular content**
Avery Dennison Carbon Footprinting Tool reports
Reuse
Labels that can be easily and cleanly removed from packaging or that stick for multiple washing cycles
AD MultiCycle™
Paper with wash-off adhesive labels are Cyclos approved

 

* Expectation is that EPBP guidelines will align with the RecyClass ones
** 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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Talk to our expert

Got questions? Feel free to contact Liselotte den Ouden, Product Manager Film Solutions, Materials Group EMENA. Liselotte has been with Avery Dennison for over 8 years, bringing a background in petroleum engineering to our company. Liselotte has working experience in the petrochemical industry, and she brings that experience and a wide knowledge of PET recycling processes to her current role, in which Liselotte oversees our film portfolios for food, beer and beverage, and HPC.

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HDPE and PP

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