FINAT makes call for entries in 2015 Recycling Awards

Companies that have their paper and/or film release liners recycled are invited to apply, and to be recognized for taking steps to lower their environmental impact. The deadline for submitting entries is May 22. The winners will be announced at the inaugural European Label Forum in Amsterdam on June 11-13.

The FINAT Recycling Awards competition is intended to raise awareness for the growing number of sustainable and economically-viable recycling programs. These offer companies site-specific options for the collection and recycling of used release liners, so allowing them to reduce both their carbon footprint and landfilling costs.

All entries will be judged by an independent jury comprised of expert representatives from NGOs in the field of recycling of both paper and plastic. Eligible projects will be evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including how much liner does the company recycle and is this traceable, does the company recycle other secondary label materials, is the company actively involved in the promotion of release liner recycling, is the company making efforts to encourage partners/customers to engage in recycling, is the company using a new and/or innovative approach to logistics or recycling and is the company representing a new end-user market for liner recycling.

Hagmaier Etiketten & Druck claimed the inaugural converter category prize, while Unilever triumphed in the end-user category.

‘We were delighted by the large number of good entries to our first Recycling Awards competition last year,’ said Jacques van Leeuwen, chairman of the FINAT Recycling Awards.

‘We are looking forward to continue this success and see new examples of how the industry is rising to the challenge and embracing the available recycling solutions.

‘As an independent association for the self-adhesive label industry, FINAT has set itself the target to support companies in exploring and exploiting common recycling solutions and provide the gateway to identify recycling opportunities.

‘Release liner recycling is picking up pace. More and more, recycling initiatives are offering turnkey solutions to recover a valuable secondary material that no longer needs to go to waste. The FINAT Recycling Awards competition is an excellent opportunity to highlight the advances recycling programs are making in our industry.’