Over the past two years, the amount of release liner waste at robos-labels has increased from 10.5 tons in 2022 to 11.9 tons in 2023. Currently, 60 tightly packed bundles of release liner waste are stacked on 30 pallets, with a total weight of 12 tons, ready to be collected and recycled into new products.
Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
Recycling release liner waste reduces the demand for raw materials and helps conserve natural resources. By recycling, robos-labels improves its environmental footprint and achieves its sustainability goals.
Not only we, but also our customers’ industries, are subject to strict environmental regulations. By recycling release liner waste, a further contribution can be made to improving one’s carbon footprint and supporting the EU’s climate protection goals.
For us, sustainability means using resources in a way that meets the ecological, social, and economic needs of the present without compromising the opportunities of future generations. That is why we want to maximize our potential to act responsibly and sustainably in the market, strengthening our partnership with customers and their trust in our brand. In addition, recycling release liner waste helps reduce waste disposal costs, contributing to cost efficiency.
Generation and Processing of Release Liner Trim Waste
- How does release liner trim waste occur?
Release liner trim waste is generated during the finishing process when label webs are cut to the desired width. Initially, the label web is wider as it contains markings for web control, and this extra width is technically required for the matrix removal process. The release liner, which is coated with a silicone layer, remains on the adhesive side of the labels until they are processed by the customer. The release liner trim waste produced during this process is waste material, but it can be recycled.
- How is the release liner trim waste processed?
The release liner strips are extracted directly during the cutting process at the machine. The waste is transported via a central piping system to several ceiling-mounted and enclosed shredding systems, which cut the waste into defined sizes and transport it to an outdoor collection container. The shredded scraps are then packed into special boxes and regularly collected by our recycling partner, Cycle4Green. They transport the waste to a recycling specialist in Austria, Lenzing AG, where the release liner waste is processed into new release liner materials.
- Sustainable Benefits of Recycling
Recycling release liner waste is ideal from an ecological perspective, as it enables a closed-loop recycling process. By reusing materials, raw material consumption is reduced, which in turn helps lower CO2 emissions.
Release Liner Waste in Label Production
The annual amount of release liner waste from label production in Europe is approximately 470,000 tons. Unfortunately, most of this waste is not disposed of sustainably: Around 70-80% of this waste ends up in landfills, while only about 20% is thermally processed or recycled. This imbalance is problematic, as landfilling not only wastes valuable resources but also causes significant environmental harm. Last year, robos-labels sent 11.9 tons of release liner trim waste for recycling.
Consistent Environmental Management
robos-labels also takes responsibility for the environment in other areas. The company building, which was occupied in 2017, was constructed according to the latest energy-saving standards. About 55% of our energy needs are now met by our own photovoltaic system, which was expanded by 1,000 sqm in August 2024. In this expansion, not only were remaining roof surfaces covered, but an entire facade was also equipped with PV modules. The remaining energy demand is fully covered by green electricity sourced from EEG and TÜV-certified plants. Since 2009, robos-labels has enhanced its management system and is certified according to DIN EN ISO 14001 for environmental management.
Learn More About Cycle4Green and Release Liner Waste Recycling in the Label Industry
