Foilco announces re-pulpability test results

Early last year the Foilco team approached the independent testing company, SGS-IPS Testing - a lab that provides testing services for the paper, nonwovens, packaging, and disposable consumer products industries. The aim was to prove that high percentages of foil coverage does not affect the re-pulpability of a product. For many years’ printers and foil suppliers have worked on the basis that a maximum of 80 percent foil coverage was allowed before the stamping foil would start to have an effect on a materials’ recyclable properties.

Foilco became aware that studios, agencies, large brands, and household names were starting to dictate the levels of foils used in creative projects for packaging and graphic applications due to their misconceptions surrounding accepted industry standards. A 30 percent benchmark was accepted across all sectors, yet creatively, some brands' restrictions would not allow any more than 5 percent maximum foil coverage.

This led to the reduction of foils being specified in markets like greeting cards, labels and packaging under the guise of “accepted” percentages.

Foilco approached SGS-IPS Testing to seek clarification on the matter and the results were greater than anticipated. This report provides creatives, printers, specifiers and brands with the confidence that 80 percent foil coverage of a product does not affect the re-pulpability of a recyclable substrate and, as such, can be recycled conclusively.

The results can be requested via Foilco (SGS-IPS 01683-19)