HERMA has obtained RecyClass certification confirming that most of its film-based self-adhesive label materials are fully compatible with the recycling of rigid HDPE packaging, expanding certified options for label converters and brand owners.
The certification covers standard polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) film label materials used with HERMA’s 72Hpw permanent adhesive and 62Xpc adhesive for films. It also applies to PP films combined with the 62C adhesive designed for clear-on-clear applications. Only specialised materials such as metallised PP films are excluded, as they require additional sorting assessment.
RecyClass, a cross-industry initiative focused on improving plastic packaging recyclability, evaluates how packaging components behave during established recycling processes. For HDPE, this includes a cold-wash process at 40°C, where compatible label materials can be effectively removed without impacting recycled material quality.
Dr Stefan Kissling, Head of Adhesive Coating and Specialty Coatings at HERMA, said the certification positions the company among a limited number of suppliers with RecyClass approval across both PP and PE film label materials. He added that this enables users to select label solutions aligned with the objectives of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), particularly in reducing contaminants such as printing inks during recycling.
HERMA has been developing label materials for both HDPE and PET packaging streams and now offers certified solutions across these key substrates, with certifications typically provided by RecyClass or Cyclos-HTP.
Several certified materials are available within HERMA’s standard slit-width programme and can be supplied from stock, allowing quicker adoption of label solutions designed to meet recyclability requirements across packaging applications.