Henkel, UPM Raflatac partnership achieves zero liner waste

Henkel's Beauty Care business unit, which markets brands such as Schwarzkopf, has reduced its label liner waste to zero in a unique partnership with UPM Raflatac, with more than 400 tons of siliconized glassine label liner waste recycled through the RafCycle recycling concept.

Henkel generated more than 400 tons of siliconized glassine label liner waste at its Wassertrüdingen facility in Germany during 2016

Henkel generated the siliconized glassine label liner waste at its Wassertrüdingen facility in Germany during 2016. UPM Raflatac collected the used label release liner from Henkel and recycled it into new graphic printing paper for books and magazines at the UPM Plattling paper mill in Germany. By recycling the entire amount, Henkel has saved the equivalent to 20 truckloads of liner waste. This has contributed to its sustainability strategy, explained Greg Douglas, who is responsible for business development of tapes, labels and coatings in Europe at Henkel.

‘Cooperating with our partners along our value chain is a key element in our sustainability strategy. The partnership with UPM Raflatac reflects our belief that sustainability is inseparably linked to innovation and efficiency.’

UPM Raflatac's RafCycle concept gives a new life to self-adhesive label waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. Juha Virmavirta, director of RafCycle solutions at UPM Raflatac, said: ‘Henkel has a wide-ranging role in the labeling value chain, both as a raw material supplier and as a label end user. This makes Henkel an important partner for us, and the RafCycle program is a vital element of our cooperation.

‘We both see sustainability as a key to success and a driver of innovation. Our recycling partnership is a concrete example of this, and I'm convinced there are many more opportunities to deepen our cooperation.’

UPM Raflatac and Henkel, a global producer of industrial, commercial and consumer care products, continue to strengthen their collaboration in support of sustainable development in the labelling value chain. Henkel was recently awarded the RafCycle partner certificate for glassine paper liner recycling.

‘In our workshop with UPM Raflatac, our Henkel Laundry experts were able to develop additional ideas, setting the path for further improvements, especially in the field of new sustainable label design,’ added Douglas.