UPM Raflatac has launched three new sustainable, Bisphenol A (BPA)-free thermal label materials for retail, food and logistics applications in Europe.
Image: A UMP’s BPA-free label material used in the retail industry. Photo: courtesy of UPM.
Developed particularly for retail weigh-price and backroom labeling applications as well as for logistics labeling, the new materials are designed to allow printers to offer BPA-free, thermal labels that are equipped with the RAFNXT+ formula of sustainability credentials.
The new materials meets the European Union’s new legislation which requires all thermal paper sold in Europe to be free of BPA after 2 January 2020.
UPM said that the three RAFNXT+ versions of its BPA-free label materials, which are 20% more carbon positive than standard paper materials, use less energy and water in addition to generating less waste during their lifecycle.
UPM Raflatac EMEIA VIP & Prime segment director Ville Pollari said: “Many brands are incorporating net-positive principles into their strategies and targets, and the Forest Positive concept and RAFNXT+ product range is our answer to this.
“Thanks to their resource optimization, these products are not only more carbon positive than our standard range, but they also help our customers improve their productivity.
“Our Thermal Eco range now included products that offer all these benefits and have the added advantage of being BPA free.”
Said to be sustainable and efficient, the UPM’s RAFNXT+ label products offer savings in downtime and start-up waste as a result of fewer reel changes, the firm said.
The firm’s Thermal Eco BPA Free NXT+FSC and Retail Eco BPA Free NXT+FSC label materials are designed for packaging films and cardboards used meant for short-life labelling applications such as retail weigh-scale, backroom and logistics labelling.
The materials, which comply with relevant food contact regulations, can be paired with different adhesives to ensure optimal performance at a range of temperatures.
Employing around 3,000 people, UPM Raflatac produces self-adhesive label materials and supplies paper and film label stock for consumer product and industrial labeling.