HERMAgreenGuide

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Pointing the way

to sustainable labelling
HERMAgreenGuide
HERMA’s innovative adhesive materials enable you right
from the start to make decisions about your product
range that maximise sustainability. That’s because
HERMA rigorously pursues a policy it calls ReThink.
By continuously searching for alternative and innovative
raw and input materials, we can help you consistently
to meet contemporary market expectations and calls
to reuse, recycle, reduce or renew. On this basis you
will be able to initiate a more extensive realignment
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and bring about a positive change with your customer e•

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and user solutions.

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The ReThink approach perceives the life span of every

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product as a continuous cycle, which entails both the du e
initial use of reprocessed materials and their recycling ce• R
after use. Wherever gaps in the cycle are unavoidable,
resource consumption and waste have to be kept to a
minimum. And, whenever possible, the use of renewable
raw materials is recommended. In label production,
these considerations can be addressed from three
different starting points. Either the label is to support
the circular economy by way of its application and
recyclability, or it is to be produced from either low-impact
or compostable materials. For each of these three cases,
you will find a pathway to the appropriate HERMA
material in the decision tree overleaf.
 Wash-off adhesives Paper label material with removable adhesive
First, select the sustainability criterion that best matches PE / PP Drinks bottle Wash-Off 62Rpw & 52W with film label Removable by hand (e.g. 42N or 42R) • Film label material
materials (density < 1) with adhesive 62Xpc or 42N
the label’s intended use: reuse/recycle to support the Label is to
be removed
from packaging
circular economy, reduce impact by selecting sustainable Adhesives 62Rpw & 62P in combination with
Other bottles Hot wash: adhesives 62Rpw & 52W.
PET Wash-Off wet-strength paper. Adhesives 62Rpw & 52W Wash-Off
label materials, or renew by specifying compostable label in combination with film (density < 1) Cold wash: adhesive 62P
Rigid packaging
materials. Then follow the pathway that best describes
your actual application and requirements to identify the Glass: predominantly wet-strength
paper labels, plastic labels only where
Adhesives 62Rpw & 62P in combination with Label is to remain Identical label and Any of the PE or PP film labels
Glass / metal Tray Wash-Off wet-strength paper. Adhesives 62Rpw & 52W
necessary Tinplate: removable, wash-off on packaging packaging material with permanent acrylate adhesives
material recommended by HERMA. or permanent film or paper labels
in combination with film (density < 1)
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Fish boxes (for transport) 63Vst with paper or film label Paper label material with removable adhesive
Polystyrene EPS, e.g. materials • White boxes (for protection during transport) Removable by hand (e.g. 42N or 42R) • Film label material
Styropor Labels are generally peeled off by hand. Adhesives with adhesive 62Xpc or 62Gpt
63S, 63B & 64B with paper or film label materials Label is to
be removed
from packaging
Composites Packaging of this kind is to be avoided. PS (rigid) e.g. We cannot recommend a particular product Hot wash: adhesives 62Rpw & 52W.
(e.g. drinks cartons) Recycling is extremely difficult. yoghurt pots at present. Send us your specific inquiry. Wash-Off
We will be pleased to develop a solution for you. Cold wash: adhesive 62P
The label plays a subordinate role. Flexible packaging

HERMA adhesives 62A and 62D have been tested for recyclability with selected label materials;
Label is to remain Identical label and Any of the PE or PP film
Paper / board they can be eliminated by screening when the paper is being recycled. In consequence,
Support circular an A4 sheet in a magazine does not disrupt the recycling process. The tests were performed on packaging packaging material labels with permanent or
by the industry association INGEDE at Darmstadt Technical University. removable acrylate adhesives
economy

HERMAcoat greaseproof (228)/62P/523

Stainless steel (loop boxes)
HERMAcoat WS (229)/62P/523

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Adhesive 62P

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PE / PP circulation crates HERMAnature fieno (340)
with paper label material

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Paper HERMAsilphie (341)
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HERMAgreenGuide

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Multi-use Alternative label

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materials du e
PET bottles
Adhesives 62Rpw and 52W
with your choice of label material Thermal paper HERMAtherm nature (900) ce• R

We cannot recommend a particular product

Glass at present. Send us your specific inquiry.
238/61Dps/523, 133/61Dpc/512, Although these recommendations do not cover continual material recovery. For recycling The novel method of processing their dried
Paper / film 907/61Dps/543, 902/62Dps/543,
We will be pleased to develop a solution for you.
892/62Xpc/517
Redu every use of the products in the HERMA ReThink PET bottles, it achieves a wash-off score fibres for use in paper production has a very
Low-impact Thin label
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label materials materials range, they do shine a light on the wide diversity of 100 percent when used with film labels. low environmental impact. Measured against
HERMAwhite (601)/82S
HERMAextracoat (242)/62N/517 InNo-Liner HERMAtherm C (902)/82S
of sustainable labelling options, which include A further ReThink development wood pulp, their use can reduce energy and
Paper
HERMAextracoat (242)/62E/520
the award-winning (German Packaging Prize) combines thinner label papers with special water consumption by as much as 97 and
EN 13432 & seedling logo
Industrial composting label material HERMA rPE white. Its recycled adhesives, so that the label stock in the 99 percent respectively.
HERMAcoat Recycling (236)/62Gpt/523
Thermal paper HERMAtherm Bio (908)/62N/517 Paper HERMAlaser Recycling (167)/62Dpc/541 polyethylene originates in equal measure Thin Range likewise consumes exceedingly Tell us about your specific label application.
HERMAtherm Bio phenol-free (909)/62E/520
Rene Recycled label from industrial and household waste. small quantities of precious resources. We will make it sustainable!
Compostable
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materials
label materials HERMA rPE white(855) Another example, provided by the Examples of naturally renewable raw
nd er HERMA rPE PCR white(856)
HERMAextracoat (242)/62N/517 Film

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Paper HERMA rPE PCR transparent (866)
HERMAextracoat (242)/62E/520 HERMA rPET – release liner – (561) HERMA wash-off adhesive 62Rpw, facilitates materials include grass and the cup plant.

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NF T51-800
Home composting
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HERMAtherm Bio phenol-free (909)/62N/517
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Thermal paper
HERMAtherm Bio phenol-free (909)/62E/520 w
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 Published by:
HERMA GmbH
Self-adhesive Materials Division
Heinrich-Hermann-Straße 14
D-70794 Filderstadt
Tel. +49 (0) 711 / 7702-1980
[email protected]

Responsible for content:

Milos Kojic

Copy, composition, design:

Carapetyan & Krämer
www.carapetyan.com

Picture credits:
iStock: Cover and pages 2 to 7
Other images: HERMA

Subject to change, errors excepted.

HERMA® is a registered trademark of

HERMA GmbH. | © 2022 HERMA GmbH

www.herma.com/material

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GBH10001/01.2021