New: the HERMAgreenGuide for self-adhesive material - The fast track to sustainable labels

• The new HERMAgreenGuide shows which self-adhesive materials can already make labels more sustainable at the key levels of the so called zero waste hierarchy.  
• Whether Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or Recover: Easy-to-understand paths in the form of a decision tree lead to sensible material options or alternatives.
• By 2030, 70 per cent of all new self-adhesive material developments from HERMA are expected to contribute to the sustainability goals of label printers and users.

Whether for food, cosmetics, beverages, pharmaceuticals or consumer goods, anyone who wants to make packaging and packaging processes more sustainable has to rethink - and break new ground. Labels can play a decisive role in this. The world would be simpler if label producers and label users could recognise at a glance what is already possible at every level of the so-called zero waste hierarchy. For this reason, HERMA will be presenting the new edition of the GreenGuide at the Sustainability in Packaging event in Barcelona (8 - 10 October 2024, Stand 17 and 18). Regardless of which level of the so called zero waste hierarchy you are at, whether Reduce, Reuse, Recycle or Recover is required, whether labelling is to be applied to surfaces made of PET, PE/PP, paper and cardboard or glass: The HERMAgreenGuide reliably guides label producers and users to sustainable self-adhesive materials options. For example, for wash-off solutions, which are becoming increasingly important in the EU in order to achieve the targets of the Directive on Single-Use Plastics. Or for adhesive materials with a significantly reduced CO2 footprint. And for self-adhesive materials that can be easily composted. ‘Even at other trade fairs, it was good to see how our business partners reacted enthusiastically when they found what they were looking for with the GreenGuide for their respective application in no time at all,’ says HERMA Product Manager Hendrik Kehl. The user first determines the sustainability aspect to be taken into account: ‘Reduce’ is about resource-saving materials, ‘Reuse’ and ‘Recycle’ are about supporting the circular economy and ‘Recover’ is about optimising compostability. ‘It's amazing how a well-structured tool can open your eyes to what is already feasible,’ adds Hendrik Kehl. ‘But we also have an ambitious goal. By 2030, 25 per cent of HERMA adhesive material products alone should make a substantial contribution to the circular economy. And 70 per cent of new developments will contribute to our customers' sustainability goals.’

The HERMAgreenGuide can be downloaded here: www.herma.com/fileadmin/Material/pdfs/HERMAgreenGuide_EN.pdf