Bostik Spotlight Q&A: Technical Support to Improve Sustainability  

As you know, the label manufacturing value chain is focused on improving sustainability. Here at Bostik, our technical support team has the expertise to help your end-use label meet sustainability goals while also providing high performance levels. We sat down with Lauren Alexander, Bostik’s Technical Service Representative for Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs), where she shared her expertise on what label converters should think about to improve sustainability.  
  

Q: What is a big challenge happening right now with sustainability, and what can converters do?  
 

A: A big challenge right now is creating sustainability goal continuity throughout the supply chain. Often times brand owners have a sustainability goal, but it may not always be achievable throughout their value chain due to technology and supplier limitations. For example, if they want an entire PET package to be recyclable, it means all elements, including the label, must enable recyclability. For optimal design, all elements must work in tandem and be qualified together; if not designed specifically for recyclability, labels and other elements can negatively impact the overall package’s recyclability level and make it challenging for brand owners to meet their goals. Therefore, it’s critical that both converters and brand owners work together seamlessly. This includes talking about: 

• Label construction: Everyone should be aligned on what is being used throughout the label layers to make sure the label offers high performance and the necessary capabilities for the end-use packaging.  
• Equipment capabilities: Converters must be able to efficiently manufacture the label with the equipment they own. The materials should help the converters reduce downtime, and this is also a place where there is opportunity to reduce energy usage to save carbon emissions. 
• Sustainability goals: If converters are aware of brand owner sustainability goals upfront, they’ll be able to find suppliers that can help to deliver labels faster.  

These conversations are what help converters and brand owners develop long-working relationships and become successful together.  
 

Q: What is Bostik’s technical support team doing to help converters improve label sustainability?  
 

A: In today’s industry, it’s not enough just to make a sustainable product; our technical service team is extremely focused on implementing sustainable solutions that also maintain high performance and fill any unmet gaps. One example is our all-temperature, wash-off label adhesive; we knew there was an unmet need in the market for a wash-off label adhesive that could adhere to cold-fill and freezer-grade PET packaging. Now, we offer a solution that provides strong adhesion down to 0°F (-17°C). This product also received the Association of Plastic Recyclers certification that proves this solution meets or exceeds Critical Guidance for PET packaging. Our Bostik experts also stay on top of the latest developments with trade organizations like APR or BPI, because we know that will bring value to our customers’ end-use labels while also saving them valuable resources doing it themselves. 
 
When we work with customers, we walk them through step-by-step to choose the right adhesive, test it with their materials and make sure it runs efficiently on their coaters. We have a pilot plant that allows us to make modifications to adhesives quickly and efficiently. If problems arise, we provide on-site support and make recommendations to remedy the issue. All of this is to help converters save valuable production time and be cost-effective when trying to either enhance sustainability or improve an application in general.