Innovia launches functional label materials at Labelexpo Europe 2023

Innovia Films will showcase at Labelexpo Europe 2023 its range of sustainable and functional label materials based on recyclable BOPP along with APO shrink film material that were developed to support the recycling of PET bottles.

Along with the standard version of its thin, floatable shrink sleeve material, Innovia will launch a new version: APO-HS, a high-shrink floatable polyolefin shrink film, which improves PET bottle recycling and that can be applied on ‘complex’ bottle shapes such as trigger bottles used for household cleaners. This product segment has seen a trend to switch to PET bottles in the recent months.

‘We are very much looking forward to the show. As a leading company in material science, especially for BOPP solutions for label and packaging, we have been working on materials that not only follow the principle of reduce, re-use and recycle but also support recycling of the finished package, while at the same time providing the right barrier functions needed to prevent food waste for example’ said Lucija Kralj, business unit director – labels EMEA at Innovia.

‘We are excited to share this with our customers and other visitors at the Labelexpo fair in Brussels and discuss how these filmic materials can help everyone achieve their goal of re-designing packaging to become more circular.’

Innovia will offer live demonstrations of its thin, floatable shrink sleeve material to show the functionality and to explain how the sink/float recycling steps that is an integral part of PET reycling and how this actually works.

‘Sustainable shrink sleeves made from floatable polyolefin material have become the go-to technology for many big brands in the last couple of months. As more and more rPET bottles are used, the brands want to make sure that these are recycled again and again to ensure a closed loop’ Kralj said.

‘It is important to use for sleeve decoration that detaches automatically in the recycling process and separates itself easily from the bottle in the sink/float process. Our APO shrink film material does exactly that.’

Innovia will also be exhibiting different Rayoface label films that are clear or white, thinner, printable, and comply with global food contact regulations. As they are thinner than comparable label materials, they help improve the overall carbon footprint through material efficiency whilst maintaining excellent printability.

Also on display will be Innovia’s Rayoface AQBSA version, a printable, cavitated label film with excellent opacity. Designed for pressure-sensitive labeling (PSL) applications, the film is 58 microns thick, has a printable top-coating, and an adhesive receptive coated surface on the reverse side.

Innovia will also present products for in-mold labeling, and linerless labels.