(UPM Raflatac, Helsinki, 2 November 2017 at 11:00 EET) - UPM Raflatac and Mus Verpakkingen, a Dutch supplier of metal packaging and closures, have partnered to find a more sustainable alternative for can labeling. Historically, Mus's products have primarily been used in the paint and chemical markets, but today Mus provides a wide assortment of cans, closures and aerosols for the cosmetic and food industries, too.
Together with UPM Raflatac, Mus has tested the new RafBio PE material in application. RafBio PE is a sustainable alternative to standard PE film and is made from sugarcane ethanol containing more than 80 % renewable plant-based raw material. This ecodesigned film material reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is recyclable within the same recycling streams as fossil-based PE.
For the test series, Mus has labeled 1 liter cylindrical cans with RafBio PE Clear FTC 85 film. The plan is to use RafBio label material for other sizes, too, as the labeled range of cans goes from 125 mm to 5 liters.
In the EU, the recycling rate of metal cans is as high as 70 %. Metal cans can be recycled indefinitely, which makes them a part of circular economy. The asset of having a sustainable labeling solution for metal cans serves not only the customers but the environment too.
As a renewable material, RafBio PE Clear FTC 85 substitutes fossil-based raw materials and reduces CO2 emission in product decoration and identification leading to ecodesigned packaging.
"The recycling rate of cans in the Netherlands is at 95%. Having the RafBio PE label strengthens our product proposition even further and helps us create a very sustainable product - something a growing number of our customers consider very important," says Willem Mus, CEO of Mus Verpakkingen.
In addition to testing this new sustainable label material, Mus has also joined UPM Raflatac's RafCycle® program to recycle its glassine liner. After collection, glassine liner is given a new life as magazine paper at UPM Plattling in Germany.
Photos can be downloaded at the UPM Photo Library »
For further information please contact:
Päivi Knihti, Segment Manager, Films, EMEIA, UPM Raflatac, tel. +358 2041 68 395
UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac is one of the world's leading producers of self-adhesive label materials. We supply high-quality paper and film label stock for consumer product and industrial labelling through a global network of factories, distribution terminals and sales offices. We employ around 3,000 people and made sales of EUR 1.4 billion (USD 1.5 billion) in 2016. UPM Raflatac is part of UPM - The Biofore Company. Find out more at www.upmraflatac.com.
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UPM
Through the renewing of the bio and forest industries, UPM is building a sustainable future across six business areas: UPM Biorefining, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Paper ENA and UPM Plywood. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. We serve our customers worldwide. The group employs around 19,300 people and its annual sales are approximately EUR 10 billion. UPM shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. UPM - The Biofore Company - www.upm.com
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