HERMA has introduced certified wash-off self-adhesive label materials for packaging made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), expanding on its existing solutions for PET containers. HDPE is widely used in rigid packaging for food, cosmetics, and industrial products, but recycling has often been hampered by label residue and inks.
The cyclos-HTP Institute has certified three polypropylene (PP) label films combined with HERMA’s adhesive 72Hpw. These labels reliably detach during the cold pre-wash phase of recycling, allowing for a cleaner HDPE recyclate. “Various contaminants still often complicate the HDPE recycling process,” said Dr Joachim Christiani, Managing Director of the cyclos-HTP Institute. “By using label material consisting of one of the three PP films certified by us and the adhesive 72Hpw, labels can be reliably removed in the recycling process along with any unwanted printing inks.”
The certified combinations include HERMA PP white super tc (grade 881), HERMA PP 50 transparent tc (885), and HERMA PP 50 transparent super tc (886). These have been assessed under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation-compliant CHI Assessment Catalogue and classified as “separable” under EN 13430 and ISO 14021 standards.
The new materials are now available from stock. Additional wash-off materials for HDPE are currently undergoing certification.
HERMA GmbH, based in Filderstadt, Germany, reported €452.6 million in sales for 2024 across its three business divisions and employs around 1,100 people.