UPM Raflatac has launched its Carbon Action Plastic Labels portfolio in a bid to help its customers reduce the carbon footprint of their packaging materials and demonstrate its own commitment to the United Nations’ climate action initiatives.
Only 15% of the targets set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are thought to be on target. In an effort to drive further progress, UPM joined the UN Global Compact Forward Faster initiative in September 2023.
This initiative seeks to streamline progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals’ 2030 targets in the context of Climate Action, Living Wage, Gender Equality, Water Resilience, and Finance & Investment.
UPM intends to set science-based net zero emission targets in line with a 1.5°C pathway, halve global emissions by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. In order to do so, it plans to reduce its own emissions, as well as those across its supply chain, and innovate new products, such as its Carbon Action portfolio.
Each product in this portfolio is set to support multiple ‘Circular Economy Rs’ – Reduced, Recycled, or Renewable materials designed for Recycling or Reuse. As such, it expects to help printers and brand owners pursue reductions in their Scope 3 emissions, with an LCA calculation process conducted via UPM Raflatac’s Label Life service and validated by DEKRA.
It is hoped that Carbon Action label materials will ‘smoothly replace’ traditional options without impacting quality or performance. UPM Raflatac anticipates that the products will contribute to its transition away from fossil-based materials and serve as a ‘meaningful solution for the packaging industry’.
As of yesterday, the first products under the Carbon Action umbrella were made available to customers in EMEIA and the Americas. Additional products will be revealed in the future.
“The launch of our Carbon Action portfolio is more than an introduction of new products; it’s a declaration of our unwavering commitment to sustainability and our customers’ success,” says Katja Kivelä, business director, Food and HPC, Films & Specials at UPM Raflatac. “By providing innovative solutions that can directly contribute to reducing carbon footprint and enhancing circularity, we empower our customers and brands to take concrete steps towards a low carbon circular economy.”
Other sustainability-minded developments from UPM Raflatac include the certification of all its papers as responsibly sourced and recognition from RecyClass for its PE films featuring multipurpose UV acrylic adhesive technology.
At last year’s LabelExpo, Innovia Films revealed two label facestock films – Rayoface CPE45 and Rayoface WPE45. Designed to be recyclable and thinner than traditional filmic label materials, the solutions were said to help customers lower their carbon footprints.
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