Forging a Sustainable Path: UPM Raflatac and Sustana Join Forces to Drive Circular Solutions
In a world where sustainability is not just a buzzword but a pressing need, companies are increasingly looking for innovative ways to reduce their environmental footprint and drive positive change within their industries. Two such trailblazers, UPM Raflatac and Sustana, have joined hands in a concerted effort to revolutionize the way release liner waste is handled, thus catalyzing the transition towards a circular economy. Release liner, often overlooked and dismissed as unrecyclable due to its silicone coating, is a prime example of an underutilized resource. However, through collaborative efforts spearheaded by UPM Raflatac and Sustana, this perception is being challenged. Michael Garretson, Manager of Recycling and Circular Solutions at UPM Raflatac Americas, emphasizes, "Many people don’t realize that there are recycling options for label release liner. There are. It’s just a function of putting the pieces together. That’s what we’re doing here." Sustana's innovative technology plays a pivotal role in this process, enabling the desiliconization of release liner and transforming it into clean, high-grade fiber and papers. This forward-thinking approach not only diverts release liner from landfills but also unlocks its potential as a valuable feedstock.