UPM Raflatac leads the label industry with RafCycle®, an innovative recycling concept that offers a new life for label waste. Label recycling provides numerous benefits to printers, packers, brand-owners, and, of course, the environment. 

Turning waste into a resource is a key concept in the circular economy and an important part of our approach to sustainability. Thanks to RafCycle, we can create new materials by recycling self-adhesive label waste.

UPM Raflatac collects label waste from its partners and recycles through a variety of RafCycle solutions. As our partner, we will provide you with a partner certificate, and we will give you the right to use the RafCycle brand in your marketing and communications.

As a RafCycle partner, we will provide you with a tailored program that helps you:

• Reduce waste disposal costs 
• Meet regulatory requirements 
• Achieve your landfill reduction targets 
• Enhance the circular economy 
• Build your reputation as a responsible business

The RafCycle concept in a nutshell:

Depending on the region, landfilling and waste-to-energy are the typical solutions for label waste. With RafCycle and the circular economy approach, landfill waste can be avoided because RafCycle takes self-adhesive label by-products and gives them new life as paper liners, composite material, or energy.

Label waste arises at three points along the value chain, and we take care of the label waste coming from all of them:

• Label stock manufacturers: Coating and trimming waste
• Brand-owners: paper/PET waste

We can utilise the label waste material generated in three end-products:

1. Paper label liner 
Paper release liners can be de-siliconized and recycled back into pulp and paper. We are able to utilize our extensive collection network to facilitate cost-effective paper liner recycling. The re-use of recovered wood fibres in paper products is a closed-loop solution and a shining example of sustainability at its best.

2. PET label liner 
PET release liners can be recycled into flake and resin fit for packaging and industrial end-use markets. We can facilitate cost-effective PET liner recycling that enables you to meet your zero waste/landfill goals. Recycling the PET liner gives it another life and contributes to the circular economy.

3. Waste to energy 
Label stock waste can be used as fuel in waste to energy facilities or kilns.

Contact us to find out how we can partner together! Click here for more information on RafCycle.

RafCycle brochure.pdf