Ravenwood predicts linerless success

UK-based linerless labeling specialist Ravenwood Packaging is predicting that linerless systems will become less of a niche product and increasingly mainstream around the world as new solid waste legislation comes into place, as most recently introduced in Latin America.

The solid waste legislation passed recently by the Brazilian government is one of the most rigorous yet and has put release liner waste under particular pressure. The liner, which can no longer be land-filled or incinerated, must now be collected and recycled – which requires new recycling systems to be developed.

One solution, according Ravenwood Packaging, is for manufacturers and brand owners to dispense with backing paper altogether to save waste and additional packaging costs.

Managing director Paul Beamish is confident that linerless labels are about to make their mark in Brazil. ‘We have become a new force globally with 11 coaters installed and manufacturing linerless labeling in the UK, Scandinavia, Benelux, Spain, Australia and, most recently, in the USA,’ he said. ‘ We have hit the ground running in the USA in terms of new business deals  with food companies and we think that linerless technology will be taking a hold  of more categories in the future.’

Agents and licensees are coming on stream around the world to help with the worldwide manufacture and marketing of linerless label products. 

‘We already supply linerless labels to two out of the three top named supermarket brands in Brazil – Carrefour and Wal-Mart – and we will be looking to see whether we can forge some new partnerships to enable us to help establish some world retail packaging trends in the Brazilian market,’ continued Beamish.

‘In the UK, where the market is at its most established, we initially landed in the chilled food sector and have now expanded into fresh produce, cakes, bottled products, health and personal care items and household goods.

‘Linerless labels and sleeve packaging applications are entirely flexible and they comply with all environmental, social and sustainability issues. We believe that the labels and the applicators that apply them are coming into their own in a global arena that by following new legislation is creating its own green and compelling labeling and packaging solutions.

‘We believe that one day the majority of labels will be made this way.’

The findings of Label Summit Latin America, held in Brazil in May, were recently published by Labels & Labeling.

Ravenwood Packaging is involved in the printing and production of linerless labels and the sales, servicing and supply of parts for a range of specialist applicators worldwide, including those being picked up by a growing number of manufacturers in the USA including Uncle Charley’s Sausage Company, Gold ‘n’ Plump Poultry and Hatfield Quality Meats.

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