New HERMA label stock paves the way for composting labels at home or in the garden

Thanks to HERMA’s Self-adhesive Materials division, the industrial composting of labels complying with the standard EN 13432 has already been possible for some time. Users can now go a step further by composting some labels at home or in the garden. Two self-adhesive materials using the new adhesive 62Q have enabled HERMA to obtain certificates of compliance, issued by DIN CERTCO in each case, with the international standard NF T51-800:2015. The materials in question can now carry the “DIN Tested – Garden Compostable” mark. In consequence, compliant labels that are still attached to fruit and vegetable peelings can be composted by consumers in their own compost heap or bin. The labels biodegrade without leaving behind any substances giving cause for concern. Because they incorporate the adhesive 62Q, these labels don’t need the special conditions and high temperatures that are key to industrial composting. On top of that, this label stock is very easy to cut during the printing process and offers good adhesion. “As far as we are aware, we rank among the first label stock suppliers worldwide to supply labels with this certification while also offering outstanding processability and adhesion,” says HERMA’s director of international sales Harald Wallner. The market launch comes at just the right time, given that some countries, including France and Australia, are already demanding or have announced plans for proof of compliance for packaging and labelling materials. For labels requiring proof of compliance with industrial compostability standards, HERMA offers the adhesive 62E. It provides the compelling benefits of similarly good die-cutting and adhesive properties, and two label materials featuring the adhesive are allowed to carry the seedling logo according to the standard EN 13432.

Broad application scope

Both adhesives have been granted their certificates in combination with the label materials HERMAextracoat (grade 242) and HERMAtherm Bio (grade 909). HERMAextracoat is a white adhesive label paper that is semi-gloss coated on one side and produced from FSC® Mix Credit materials. It is suitable for creating visually appealing, multicolour labels printed by any of the classic methods. Even though it is compostable, material manufactured with this paper can be printed to the same high standard, and is just as easy to cut, as conventional label stock. For its part, HERMAtherm Bio (grade 909) is a white phenol-free thermal paper without a protective surface coating – in other words, an economy grade. It is likewise produced from FSC® Mix Credit materials. It is ideal for use in the weighing sections of food packaging lines; it produces very good results when printed with EAN barcodes and other code systems.