05/21/2026

Avery Dennison Achieves Industry-First OCC-E Certification and How2Recycle® Pre-Qualification for Thermal Labels

MENTOR, Ohio, May 21, 2026 — Avery Dennison announces it is the first to achieve Old Corrugated Container equivalency (OCC-E) certification and How2Recycle® pre-qualification* for its newest thermal paper label products. This marks a major step forward in sustainable packaging, offering a fully recyclable choice for the logistics, shipping, e-commerce, and retail industries.

The DT300LD PLUS with AT2550 adhesive and the TT with S2550 adhesive products have passed strict industry testing. They are the first label constructions to pass both parts of the OCC-E certification created by the Fibre Box Association and the American Forest & Paper Association. Western Michigan University awarded this certification. It confirms the labels are recyclable and protect the quality of recovered fiber. These labels also hold a pre-qualification from the How2Recycle® program for a widely recyclable label on a corrugated box.

Traditional labels often add unwanted materials, known as stickies, into the recycling stream. These gummy deposits can clog machines at recycling mills and lower the quality of recycled paper pulp and reduce machine productivity. The newly certified Avery Dennison labels break down safely during the recycling process. This ensures a clean stream and creates a higher yield of usable fiber to support the circular economy.

"By solving the challenge of ensuring that paper-based labels can be recycled alongside the materials they are attached to, we are helping our customers reach their goals for a sustainable future," said Abby Monnot, vice president, marketing at Avery Dennison. "These new products allow logistics companies to embrace circularity without compromising on performance."

Companies can reduce packaging waste by adopting these labels without changing their current operations, as the certified constructions are compatible with existing printing systems. To explore this and other recycling solutions, visit label.averydennison.com/sustainability.

*Materials tested and pre-qualified for a Widely Recyclable label on a corrugated box with up to 22.4% label coverage.

About Avery Dennison

Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. We are Making PossibleTM products and solutions that help advance the industries we serve, providing branding and information solutions that optimize labor and supply chain efficiency, reduce waste and mitigate loss, advance sustainability, circularity and transparency and better connect brands and consumers. We design and develop labeling and functional materials, radio-frequency identification (RFID) inlays and tags, software applications that connect the physical and digital and offerings that enhance branded packaging and carry or display information that improves the customer experience. Serving industries worldwide — including home and personal care, apparel, general retail, e-commerce, logistics, food and grocery, pharmaceuticals and automotive — we employ approximately 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Our reported sales in 2025 were $8.9 billion. Learn more at www.averydennison.com.