Thinner labels allow N.A.P. to decrease waste and cut emissions
Packaging producers are under pressure to discover ways to decrease waste and reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing performance or losing their competitive benefit.
To fulfill these needs, created the AD RDX™ portfolio of sustainable labeling solutions that make less waste and use fewer materials and resources than traditional products.
The portfolio has AD RDX self-wound overlaminate, a clear linerless film used to labels to shield the underlying facestock and add aesthetics and more amazing functionality to labels. Customer N.A.P., a Slovakian label design and printing company, just made the switch from conventional self-wound overlaminate to the AD RDX version.
The challenge
N.A.P. had been operating PP25 self-wound overlaminate for some time. They were satisfied with how easy it is to work with, the robust protection and enhanced label appearance it offers, and the fact that it eliminates the need to use self-adhesive overlaminates with the liner, resulting in less waste. However, PP25 seemed to be thicker than necessary, so they were looking for a thinner solution that would meet their technical expectations (including material conversion on their machines) while also supporting their commercial and sustainability goals. They had tried purchasing thinner products from other suppliers, but the quality was never good enough.
The solution
N.A.P. worked with us to explore their options and ultimately found that the thinner AD RDX PP19 self-wound overlaminate checked all their boxes. For starters, it meets their technical requirements by delivering the same performance as PP25 in terms of print protection, delivers the matte look many of their customers demand, and provides good transparency for clear readability on labels when overlaminate.
The product also delivers sustainability benefits. Since it is thinner than PP25, they can sell the same m2 and get the same performance, but cut CO2 across the entire product life cycle and send less waste to landfills. Finally, being able to diversify their portfolio with a new, high-performing, sustainable product enables them to be more competitive and reach a wider customer base.
The results
- CO2 emissions reduced by 615 kg per year
- Water use reduced by 750 liters per year
- Performance equal to the thicker product
Other benefits
- More labels per roll mean fewer changeovers
- Improved brand reputation
- Ability to reach new customers and grow customer base
