Saica Group has unveiled an adhesive tape made entirely from its own recycled paper, aspiring for a fully repulpable product and a circular system.
In a joint development, Saica Flex converts Saica Paper’s recycled paper into adhesive tape. This is applied to Saica Paper’s own reels in pursuit of a fully circular solution.
The tape is self-adhesive and linerless. It is intended to adhere firmly to paper and cardboard for lifelong product protection – and to be repulped for fibre recovery at end-of-life.
Reportedly compatible with all reel types on standard reel-wrapping machines, the tape is designed to be easy to unwind and overlap, and to integrate into existing production lines without requiring equipment changes or investments.
It is set to increase Saica Flex’s flexible paper portfolio in line with the company’s sustainability goals.
“At Saica Group, we are convinced that applying this innovation to reel adhesive tape is only the first step,” says Federico Asensio, Technology & Innovation director at Saica Group. “We see many more potential applications ahead, and our research continues to move in that direction.
“This breakthrough opens the door to new opportunities to further improve sustainability and performance across our product portfolio.”
So far, the solution has been introduced at Saica Paper facilities in El Burgo de Ebro, Spain. The Group expects to extend the solution to other European paper production lines in the near future.
In other news, we spoke to Sreeparna Das, sustainability communications consultant at The European Adhesive Tape Association (Afera), about the impact of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation on the adhesive tape sector.
Among other measures, industry players must clarify the classification of their tapes to understand which products count as packaging; and track the development of Design for Recycling (DfR) guidelines to keep their tape in line with recyclability standards.
Saica Group has also worked alongside Unilever to wrap promotional packs of Axe deodorant with a paper grouping band. The band is designed for recycling and intends to align with the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
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