Recycled direct thermal labels: a market first

Recycled direct thermal labels

Recycled direct thermal labels are the latest product to join Impact’s sustainable material family.

Sitting alongside our recycled PE labels, recycled PP labels and recycled paper labels, the direct thermal label solution offers a sustainable option across the spectrum of label materials.

rDT is a direct thermal uncoated paper that contains post-consumer recycled waste. Direct thermal materials are most commonly used in logistics and eCommerce. The release of rDT is well timed as Impact and the label and packaging sector has seen a sharp growth in this market as a result of Covid-19. The BBC recently reported Amazon sales up by 40%.

While enjoying growth, the Ecommerce and logistics markets have also been facing increasing pressure to hit sustainability targets. rDT is the first label material to offer a solution.

Alongside recyclability, all of Impact’s labels are BPA free and we also have a totel phnol free label range. BPA is a colour developer which was recently removed from labels after new EU regulations.

Impact are a proud member of FSC, audited annually to allow us chain of custody of responsibly sourced paper products. Our chain of custody ensure confidence in the supply chain from forest to market.

The material mirrors standard thermal materials in visual quality, conversion, printability and barcode readability. It also works with the same printers, applicators and readers as current DT label stocks.

Thermal label printers

Thermal label printers offer a cost effective and low maintenance variable data solution. Using heat transfer to create imaging, the process is environmentally friendly. It can operate very quickly and is easy to set up. DT printing also reduces waste, with no need to purge or clean dried out inks. You can not use the printer for a long period of time, return to it and print straight away with no maintenance. Impact offers a vast range of thermal labels and has extensive printer knowledge. Our expertise can ensure your labels are compatible with your printer be it Zebra, Datamax-O’Neil, Intermec or Toshiba, to name a few.

Impact Eco range

Impact’s eco label range covers synthetic and paper self-adhesive materials as well as thermal and non-thermal synthetic and paper boards.

Recycled PE labels – durable with excellent printability. Great for cosmetics, home and personal care, food and beverage applications. Can be widely recycled with other plastics.

Recycled Paper labels – cost effective and visually appealing solution used in all markets. Works well with for higher volume flexo jobs as well as digital printing.

Recycled luxury beverage labels – with a range of face material finishes, these aren’t just ideal for the beverage market but offer brand impact for food, cosmetic, home and personal care or general product labelling.

Compostable Natureflex and PLA labels – Natureflex uses cellulose from renewable wood pulp produced on sustainable plantations. PLA stands for Polylactic Acid and is made from renewable corn starch or sugar cane. Both of these materials offer white and clear synthetic label solutions to petroleum chemical based alternatives such as PP or PET.

Compostable paper labels – Paper alone is of course compostable but the adhesive on labels can sometimes stop OK certification for materials. Impact offers a unique adhesive that is approved for composting as well as low adhesive coatweight materials that satisfy safe levels for composting as part of overall packaging.

Compostable thermal labels – Thermal labels are usually used in conjunction with other packaging. With a drive to find more sustainable packaging options, Impact are offering a label solution that fits a drive in compostability.

Contact our sales team via phone 01754 767 275 or email sales@impactboston.ltd.uk for free samples and more information.

100% recycled PE labels launched

100% recycled PE labels
Helping to keep plastic out of the waste stream, 100% recycled PE labels provide a more sustainable solution for consumers. Impact’s rPE label material is made up of 50% post consumer waste and 50% industrial waste making it a green solution contributing to a circular economy.

As both a flexo and digital printer, Impact has been delighted with the results in converting the rPE material. Unlike previous industry attempts at recycled materials, the new product has excellent printability that closely rivals standard synthetic materials. No definition is lost in print and rPE works well with ribbon transfer printers.

On that topic, 100% recycled PE labels also mimic the performance characteristics of standard PE material. Durable and water resistant as well as being maliable, it responds well to curved surfaces and squeezable containes, making it ideal for use on home and personal care containers, cosmetics and food applications.

Paired with a high tack, acrylic based adhesive, the product is can withstand temperatures from -30 to 80 degrees centigrade (95 for short periods). Once applied, Impacts 100% recycled PE labels are insensitive to humidity, soaps and oil with a good resistance to light, heat and aging.

The label and adhesive compostion is certified for use where direct contact with dry, moist and such kind of fatty foodstuffs is apparent. The formulation evaluation and migration analyses shows that the rPE product combination does not have a harmful effect on the content of blood bags, making it usable in such applications.

rPE sits perfectly within Impact’s sustainable solutions range where various innovative products are available from EN 13432 certfied OK Compost materials to a label face paper made entirely from grass. Contact our sales team via phone 01754 767 275 or email sales@impactboston.ltd.uk for free samples and more information.