UPM to begin in-house recycling for paper-based release liners

UPM has developed an in-house method for recycling paper-based release liner back into pulp and paper. Release liner is the siliconized backing material that is an essential part of self-adhesive labelstock until the printed labels have been taken into use.

Packers and brand owners can now have their used release paper recycled at UPM’s paper mill’s de-inking plant in Plattling, Germany, instead of sending it to incineration. At the UPM facility, the liner is de-siliconized and processed into pulp to be used as raw material for UPM’s paper products.

‘This innovative solution serves the entire industry. We are very happy that our constant aims to minimize solid waste and maximize the reuse of raw materials are coming true also in the label value chain. With four million tonnes of recovered paper per year, UPM is the world’s largest user of recycled fiber in graphic papers and therefore we have access to various types of recovered papers – now also including release papers. This is truly one part of our Biofore thinking coming alive,’ said Marko Haveri, portfolio manager, fine and specialty papers.

UPM’s Plattling mill has a strong focus on sustainability. ‘We have invested in sophisticated processes for extracting fibers from demanding recovered paper fractions,’ explained operations director Mika Kämpe. ‘Siliconized release paper is a natural expansion to our raw material base, and we are therefore able to offer a sustainable recycling solution to the self-adhesive label industry.’

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