Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY), a global company in materials science and digital identification solutions, has just released a groundbreaking worldwide survey on the potential of packaging to promote sustainability. The survey gathered a series of data and findings, presented in a new white paper titled "Self-adhesive labels and their role in promoting packaging circularity," authored by the company itself.
The document indicates that almost all global consumer goods (CPG) brands aim to achieve 100% recyclable packaging by 2030; and a 1% increase in recycling rates can reduce approximately 2,000 tons of plastic waste annually in billion-dollar bottling applications. Another relevant insight shows that recycled rigid plastics emit about 70% less emissions than their virgin plastic counterparts.
In general, Avery Dennison's study explores the current state of sustainability of brand packaging, including how future technological innovations can bring tangible benefits; and shows that a large part of the growth of consumer goods (CPG) brands comes from sustainable brands, positioning self-adhesive labels as part of the solution.
"The white paper is a reference document based on research for consumer goods brands that are making decisions about sustainable packaging," said Ryan Yost, president of Avery Dennison, Materials Group.
Consumer goods companies face increasing pressure from consumers, retailers, regulatory agencies, investors, and employees to prioritize the circular economy. Innovations in packaging are part of your strategies to meet market expectations. Our white paper provides rich data based on interviews conducted with global consumer goods companies, as well as materials from reputable sources and insights.
the Avery Dennison teams that operate globally with clients, recyclers, legislative bodies, and industry associations. We consider this material a practical tool for companies to face the challenges of circularity — a new source of research information," he adds.
The main findings of the new research include
Brands are relentlessly seeking circularity. Almost all global consumer goods brands aim to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, and compostable packaging by 2030;
Sustainable products accounted for about 31% of the growth in the consumer goods sector between 2013 and 2023, despite representing only approximately 18.5% of the sustainable CPG market share.
Consumers perceive packaging as one of the most controllable and visible elements of a brand's sustainability. About 31% of consumers believe that "investing in sustainable packaging" is one of the top three ways to address environmental issues.
Despite advances in the production, use, and disposal of packaging, global plastic consumption has quadrupled in the last 30 years, accounting for 3.4% of global carbon emissions and 350 million tons of waste, with 40% of this volume coming from packaging.
Regulations are driving changes in packaging. For example, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in Europe requires that packaging be designed for recycling (DfR) and that at least 10% of beverage packaging be reusable by 2030;
● Packaging recycling and reuse/refill models can have a significant impact. For example, recycled rigid plastics, such as PET and HDPE, produce about 70% fewer emissions compared to their virgin plastic counterparts4;
A new generation of self-adhesive labels with "clean removal" functionality allows for superior and clean separation of the label and inks during the recycling process. This method guarantees high-quality recycled materials that, in the case of rigid plastics like PET and HDPE, allow for creative reuse to create new ones.
bottles, reducing the need for virgin raw materials and increasing the circularity of brand packaging.
