Actega puts sustainability at forefront

Actega showcases its latest sustainable technologies for the labels and packaging industries at Labelexpo Americas. The company also launches its new ACTKote UV wash-off primer, developed to increase the recyclability of shrink sleeves.

The company’s booth features samples that demonstrate the quality and functionality of Actega’s SafeShield low-migration inks and coatings range, overprint varnishes for energy-efficient LED-UV printing, and the end products achievable with Signite and Ecoleaf developed for packaging decoration and metallic embellishments.

Officially launching at the show, ACTKote UV Wash Off Primer has been formally recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) for meeting the highest criteria for recyclability according to the APR Design Guide for Plastics Recyclability. This primer provides the ink adhesion needed for shrink sleeve applications and leads to less waste, more efficient use of natural resources and increased supply of high-quality post-consumer recycled content.

Another highlight of the Actega stand is the ACTExact SafeShield UV-LED low-migration inks range. It is one of the most extensively certified ink product lines from Actega, developed for use in low-migration applications such as indirect food contact, cosmetics and nutraceutical packaging. The inks have been formulated with stringent protocols in place, meeting a comprehensive list of global and regional regulatory requirements, such as the Swiss Ordinance Annex 6 A & B listed raw materials, Nestlé 2018 Exclusion List Compliance and FDA Migration Models.

The company also showcases UV-LED Coatings developed for an energy-efficient and emission-free printing process that can be finished with a range of matt, gloss, MotionCoat or Release Coatings, creating high-value visual effects.

Mell Bishop, vice president of flexible packaging for North America and global market manager for Labels at Actega, commented: ‘With improving sustainability a priority for the industry, the products and technologies Actega will be showcasing this Labelexpo Americas will be a highlight for anyone attending the show. We’re a company that is committed to an all-encompassing sustainable approach – from how we develop our inks, coatings and technologies and the impact these products have on the carbon footprint of labels and packaging, to our regulatory expertise that ensures our customers can enjoy full confidence in our safe, compliant solutions.’

The company exhibits the most recent samples from its Signite and Ecoleaf technologies – two platforms designed to reduce waste and improve recyclability for various label and packaging applications.

Ecoleaf offers ‘mindful metallization’, a process that enables printers, converters and brands to add high-impact, high-quality, sustainable metallic embellishments to labels. This technology can reduce waste associated with traditional foiling processes and make advances towards the ESG targets. Actega said that 1kg of Ecoleaf replaces 3,000kg of foil and, therefore, eliminates 20 tons of CO2.

In addition to the sustainable benefits of switching to Ecoleaf, Labelexpo attendees will discover the latest technical advances. The latest industry leaders to install Ecoleaf technology will also be unveiled at the show and these customers will share their experiences of using it to decorate laminated tubes, shrink sleeves and pressure-sensitive labels.

Harald Jasper, managing director of Actega Metal Print, said: ‘Ecoleaf is re-shaping the way environmentally responsible brands and converters around the world think about label embellishment. It is an industrial-level solution that can easily integrate into existing flexo, digital inkjet or screen-printing lines, enabling printers and converters and their customers to benefit from improved sustainability whilst delivering the high gloss and quality achievable with traditional foiling processes.’

Labelexpo visitors can attend the 'Ecoleaf - Mindful Metallization' talk on the Innovation Stage (September 11, 12:00 p.m.) to find out more.

The other Actega technology on show, Signite, combines a low-waste printing technique with state-of-the-art application technology, enabling new creative possibilities for container decoration while reducing the environmental impact of this process.

Signite’s thin decorations use minimal materials to create high-quality results, ensuring recycling targets are met or exceeded. In addition, its construction technique promotes easy removal, enabling reuse for brands striving to encourage a circular economy.

‘Signite is exemplary of Avtega’s approach to creating a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that inspire creativity, promote customer confidence, and meet current industry challenges. Visitors to our Labelexpo booth will discover all of the advantages that Signite offers to brands and converters looking to push creative boundaries whilst meeting stringent sustainability targets. The samples on display are a must-see at Labelexpo for any company as focused on creating a more sustainable future for the industry as Actega is,’ concluded Grant Schutte, vice president at Actega North America Technologies.