When people talk about packaging designed for recycling, they usually think first of bottles, containers, or closures. But labels are becoming an increasingly important part of the equation. On plastic packaging, they can influence how effectively a material stream is processed in recycling.

If labels—and especially the printing inks they carry—can be removed under defined recycling conditions, the quality of the recovered recyclate improves. That is putting a topic into sharper focus for both label converters and end users: self-adhesive materials that not only perform in converting and application, but also support Design for Recycling.

At Interpack in Düsseldorf, Germany (Hall 8A, Booth D11), HERMA is presenting a broad portfolio that shows how support for recycling, practical performance, and cost-efficiency can be combined more effectively than ever.

Most recently, the company received a significantly expanded certification from RecyClass: With only a few exceptions, virtually all commonly used HERMA PP and PE films are now classified as fully compatible with the recycling of rigid white and colored HDPE packaging in relevant material combinations. RecyClass bases this assessment on a cold-wash process in a granulator at 40 C.

A RecyClass approval carries weight

That matters because RecyClass is a cross-industry initiative focused on improving the recyclability of plastic packaging while also advancing the traceability of plastic waste and recycled plastic content in Europe. Its more than 100 members include major global brands and companies such as PepsiCo, L’Oréal, BASF, Aldi, Nestlé, Bayer, and Ferrero. Until now, HERMA held RecyClass certifications only for selected PP films, and not for PE films. The company is now one of very few suppliers to have secured corresponding certifications from RecyClass for both PP and PE. Specifically, this applies to filmic self-adhesive materials equipped with the permanent all-round adhesive 72Hpw or the standard film adhesive 62Xpc. For PP films, the assessment also effectively extends for the first time to applications using 62C, the adhesive specialized for clear-on-clear constructions. Only a few specialty products, such as metallized PP films, remain outside the scope. For label converters, that means greater flexibility. The broader the range of self-adhesive materials that support recycling, the easier it becomes to align label design, application requirements, and sustainability goals.

Regulatory pressure is rising

The timing is relevant because regulatory pressure is increasing fast. One major example is the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR, which is pushing Design for Recycling much further into the center of packaging decisions across the supply chain. Although PPWR is European legislation, it is also relevant to companies outside the EU whenever products, packaging, or label solutions are intended for the European market. Any company supplying globally will increasingly have to work to criteria defined in Europe.

PET matters too

At the same time, focusing only on HDPE would be too narrow. HERMA has also been developing solutions for PET for years and is now one of the few suppliers of self-adhesive materials able to provide credible validation for both major plastic streams: PET and HDPE. That matters in day-to-day business. Converters are expected to support a wide range of applications across beverages, cosmetics, healthcare, household cleaners, food, and industrial markets. A supplier that can offer solutions for both major recycling streams gives them more flexibility and greater confidence in material selection.

It is also worth noting that certifications in this field do not come from a single authority. HERMA has worked for years with different evaluation approaches, including those defined by RecyClass and Cyclos-HTP. That means the industry already has meaningful reference points for material decisions—even though a fully harmonized set of testing methods across Europe is still in development.

72Hpw: A permanent all-round adhesive

A key factor in many of these certifications is HERMA’s 72Hpw adhesive. This is a permanent multi-layer adhesive that is cost-competitive with standard solutions in many film applications while also delivering properties that can support the recycling process. “The adhesive is a critical factor,” says Harald Wallner, Sales Director International at HERMA Self-adhesive Material. “Right now, solutions that support the recycling process will only gain broad market acceptance if users do not have to compromise on cost, performance, or application range. From the outset, our goal with 72Hpw was to develop an adhesive that covers a broad range of applications, including those that support plastics recycling. Feedback from both customers and testing institutes confirms that this approach has been very successful.”

Where 72Hpw is making a difference

The versatility of 72Hpw can be seen in several current examples. For PET packaging, 12 combinations of 72Hpw with different label materials—including paper as well as PE and PP films—have been certified by Cyclos-HTP for recycling paths 5, 5a, and 5b, meaning transparent PET bottles, other PET bottles, and PET trays.

Another example is HERMA PP flex label films. Developed for applications where significantly thicker PE films have traditionally been used, they deliver substantial material savings at just 45 microns. At the same time, they offer the properties converters need in practice, including printability, processability, rigidity, and dispensing performance.

In combination with 72Hpw, both PP flex films have already been certified for applications that support the recycling of HDPE and PET packaging. That makes them a good example of how resource efficiency and recycling-oriented design can work together. Clear-on-clear is another case in point. In combination with transparent PP film, 72Hpw delivers high transparency, permanent adhesion, and properties that support the recycling process. For applications in cosmetics, healthcare, household cleaners, or premium packaging, that creates a solution that combines shelf appeal, industrial processability, and recycling relevance.

Many HERMA self-adhesive materials equipped with 72Hpw are also available in the net width range with short lead times—another advantage for converters working under time pressure.

GreenGuide adds a broader sustainability dimension

Optimizing plastics recycling is only one of the ways labels can help conserve resources. At Interpack, HERMA is also showing how different sustainability targets can be addressed through the right choice of self-adhesive material with its new interactive GreenGuide. The digital tool takes visitors through criteria such as recyclability, material compatibility, and PPWR-related regulatory requirements. That gives label converters, packaging developers, packaging designers, and brand owners a structured basis for identifying application-specific solutions.

“Our goal is to make this new level of complexity manageable,” says Harald Wallner of HERMA. “With the GreenGuide, we create transparency and show concrete alternatives that can already be implemented today—from adhesives that support recycling to material-reduced constructions.”