Archroma brings sustainability focus to labels

Archroma Packaging Technologies will be a new name to many in the labels industry. Debuting at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona in 2025, the company marked a strategic move into the pressure-sensitive label sector with a strong focus on sustainable adhesive and coating technologies.

Archroma Packaging Technologies is part of Archroma, a global player in the specialty chemicals and dyes industry. Headquartered in Pratteln, Switzerland, the company operates in 42 countries with over 4,000 employees and 30 production sites worldwide.

Archroma operates through two primary business units: one focused on textile effects and the other focused on sustainable paper and packaging materials.

Archroma Packaging Technologies has three global innovation centers, each tailored to specific end-use segments: Charlotte, North Carolina, focuses on fiber, board and biobased materials; El Prat, Spain, specializes in tapes and labels, tissue and specialty papers; and Mumbai, India, focuses on flexible packaging and wood applications.

The El Prat site visited by L&L is a cornerstone of the Archroma Packaging Technologies business. Located in the ZAL Prat area near the Barcelona port, the facility benefits from excellent logistics infrastructure and transport connections. It is accredited to ISO 9001, ISO 1400 and ISO 45001, and the plant’s carbon footprint is regularly assessed by the Spanish government.

Center of innovation

The El Prat facility has a synthesis laboratory dedicated to developing aqueous-based adhesive formulations for tape and label applications.

The site was recently supplied with a 300 mm-wide pilot coater by RK Printcoat, designed to accelerate innovation in coating technologies. It enables rapid prototyping, testing and optimization of coating formulations under controlled and scalable conditions.

The pilot coater supports application methods including direct and reverse gravure, flexography and slot die, incorporating metering bar, air knife and doctor blade, lamination, IR drying and corona treatment. Coating speeds are up to 50 m/min. 

The synthesis laboratory and pilot coater personnel closely collaborate with the innovation teams, global production sites and customers to move new products into the trialing and commercial release phases.

Archroma Packaging Technologies has made a significant investment in test and measurement equipment using standard Finat testing methods.

Labels portfolio

This move into adhesives is part of Archroma Packaging Technologies’ overall strategy to deliver sustainable materials across the packaging value chain.

‘We initiated our transformation towards packaging three years ago,’ says Dr Cristina Domínguez, director of global innovation, Archroma Packaging Technologies. ‘We are well established in specialty chemicals for the paper and paper packaging industries. Labels are our next target market.’

The company’s dedication to sustainability is evident in its focus on water-based and bio-based products.

‘These observations shaped Archroma Packaging Technologies’ innovation pipeline, where key initiatives include linerless labels, biobased PSA dispersions and wash-off label adhesives’

‘We are introducing new materials with high performance and more sustainable features to the global markets against the existing chemistries,’ says Dr Maher M Saleeb, global head of R&D, adhesives and dispersions. ‘Our water-based dispersions have not only excellent physio-mechanical properties, but we were able to improve carbon footprint with lower energy consumption to bring sustainable options to the end markets. Working hand-in-hand with customers, we can offer the right alternatives in a sustainable manner to meet end-use applications.’

Archroma Packaging Technologies sells its adhesive products under the ‘Cartacol’ brand name. The existing portfolio comprises a range of water-based products, including high-solid-content dispersion base polymers for paper and filmic labels, ready-to-coat acrylic dispersions with high adhesion and cohesion for BOPP films, and tackified acrylic dispersions suitable for paper labels with high adhesion and varying tack requirements.

New developments

Archroma Packaging Technologies’ new developments are targeted at value-added, specialized applications, including a ready-to-coat dispersion for cold and deep-freeze labeling systems and another for HDPE substrates, low-surface-energy substrates, and clear-on-clear applications. Also new is a high-solid-content PSA for the labels industry, which can be re-formulated for other adhesive applications.

One of the main reasons Archroma Packaging Technologies exhibited at Labelexpo was to better understand the labeling industry's future requirements.

‘We observed a significant shift toward sustainable materials, driven by compliance with the PPWR and the broader transition to a circular economy,’ says Dr Domínguez.

These observations shaped Archroma Packaging Technologies’ innovation pipeline, where key initiatives include linerless labels, biobased PSA dispersions and wash-off label adhesives.

In conclusion, it is clear that Archroma Packaging Technologies has ambitions to become a major player in developing sustainable adhesive technologies for the labels industry. In addition, its expertise in water-based and biobased barrier coatings will benefit Loupe Americas, which also focuses on niche, added-value folding carton and flexible packaging applications alongside labels.