UPM and Vertaris to promote sustainable release liner recycling

UPM and the French company Vertaris have partnered to develop a sustainable release liner recycling concept in Europe. Release liner is the siliconized backing paper that is an essential part of self-adhesive labelstock until the printed label is taken into use. Today, the majority of the used siliconized liner is incinerated.

Vertaris has developed a technology for de-siliconizing paper-based release liner at its plant in Voreppe, France. ‘Working together with Vertaris, UPM’s label business, UPM Raflatac, will expand their labelstock waste management concept RafCycle to cover paper release liners in Europe,’ said Erkki Nyberg, director, business development of UPM Engineered Materials. The recycled liners will be processed into pulp at Vertaris’ Voreppe plant, and the pulp will be used in paper production at UPM paper mills.

‘At UPM, our aim is to minimize solid waste and maximize the reuse of raw materials. With our unique position in the labeling market as a producer of label papers and self-adhesive labelstock as well as the world's largest recovered paper user in graphic papers, we believe that this recycling concept is a perfect fit to our portfolio. It is a true example of our Biofore thinking, which among other things focuses on value creation through innovation and sustainability,’ said Marko Haveri, portfolio manager of UPM Paper Products, R&D.

‘Both Vertaris and UPM have a strong emphasis on sustainable products and production,’ said Vertaris’ president François Vessiere. ‘Vertaris brings the technology and UPM its leadership position and business integration to this co-operation, which will work for the benefit of the whole labeling industry by offering sustainable recycling solution for paper-based release liners.’

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