Avery Dennison achieves OCC-E certification, How2Recycle pre-qualification for thermal labels

Avery Dennison has announced it is the first to achieve Old Corrugated Container equivalency (OCC-E) certification and How2Recycle pre-qualification for its newest thermal paper label products. This marks a major step forward in sustainable packaging. Avery Dennison is now offering a fully recyclable choice for the logistics, shipping, e-commerce, and retail industries.

The DT300LD PLUS with AT2550 adhesive and the TT with S2550 adhesive products have passed strict industry testing. They are the first label constructions to pass both parts of the OCC-E certification created by the Fibre Box Association and the American Forest & Paper Association. Western Michigan University awarded this certification. It confirms the labels are recyclable and protect the quality of recovered fiber.

These labels also hold a pre-qualification from the How2Recycle program for a widely recyclable label on a corrugated box.

Avoiding ‘stickies’

Traditional labels often add unwanted materials, known as stickies, into the recycling stream. These gummy deposits can clog machines at recycling mills and lower the quality of recycled paper pulp. The result: reduced machine productivity. The newly certified Avery Dennison labels break down safely during the recycling process. This ensures a clean stream and creates a higher yield of usable fiber to support the circular economy.

“By solving the challenge of ensuring that paper-based labels can be recycled alongside the materials they are attached to, we are helping our customers reach their goals for a sustainable future,” says Abby Monnot, vice president, marketing, Avery Dennison. “These new products allow logistics companies to embrace circularity without compromising on performance.”

Companies can reduce packaging waste by adopting these labels without changing their current operations, as the certified constructions are compatible with existing printing systems.