The labels division of Austria-based Constantia Flexibles has developed a pressure-sensitive label for PET bottles, SpearRC.
The new cost-effective recycling solution includes clear, white and metalized film material options and is claimed to be a proprietary technology.
The company had been working on the development of a pressure-sensitive label alternative since 2002 with North America's Association of Post-Consumer Plastics Recyclers (APR).
However, having developed a cost prohibitive product, the company continued work and has now released SpearRC which can provide PET bottles to take advantage of the benefits of such labels without the recycling contamination of traditional materials.
Tests were carried out on commercially processed labeled bottles by Plastics Forming Enterprise (PFE), the success of which led APR to recognize SpearRC as being PET recycling compatible.
The product has also been regarded as being a fully compatible label technology.
SpearRC was initially introduced in the market in 2014 and was used for packaging mineral water bottles of Farris, a bottled water brand of Ringnes.
Ringnes group manager Christine Nygaard-Andersen said: "The introduction of a one-way PET bottle (superseding the returnable plastic bottles) was the perfect opportunity to reinvigorate the brand.
"New designs build on the incredibly strong and recognizable Farris diamond equity and are carried across all brand extensions. Paper labels were replaced with metallic PSL labels for the core range and have helped premiumize the brand and give it a more modern look."
Speaking about the technology, Spear vice president of R&D, Rick Fearn, said: "The market has been seeking such a solution for numerous years.
"Building off our unique relationships with industry leaders and our ever evolving knowledge of pressure sensitive materials, with SpearRC we are able to formally announce a near cost parity solution that will change the PET bottling landscape."
Image: The new pressure-sensitive label has been desgined for PET bottles. Photo: courtesy of Spear Incorporated
