FITCHBURG, Mass. — September 19, 2022 — Avery Dennison Fastener Solutions has added a new recycled Polypropylene (rPP) fastener to its environmentally friendly Ecotach™ portfolio. The newly GRS-certified (Global Recycled Standard) rPP fasteners will help apparel manufacturers, brand owners and retailers to reach internal plastics recycling targets and comply with government-mandated requirements.
Ecotach rPP fasteners feature 30% recycled polypropylene content sourced from clear plastic takeout food containers. The paddle-type fasteners are designed for apparel hang tag applications, including price tags, informational tags and tags promoting brand image.
According to Matt Hayes, product manager, Avery Dennison Fastener Solutions, Ecotach recycled polypropylene fasteners can help apparel companies achieve reductions in the use of virgin plastics.
“As part of their sustainability efforts, many apparel companies have established ambitious goals related to increasing the percentage of recycled plastic in their products and packaging,” says Hayes. “With 30% recycled polypropylene content, Ecotach rPP fasteners can help companies meet their recycled-plastic goals and prevent huge quantities of virgin plastic from entering the waste stream.”
Converting from virgin polypropylene fasteners to Ecotach rPP fasteners in apparel-tagging applications enables companies to achieve sustainability at scale. For example: 100 million recycled polypropylene fasteners, in 2- and 3-inch sizes result in annual savings of 3,900 lbs. of plastic waste. As quantities increase, the sustainability benefits scale up significantly. One billion recycled polypropylene fasteners yield annual savings of 39,000 lbs. of plastic that would enter the waste stream.
Adapting to Single-Use Plastic Laws
Avery Dennison’s Ecotach rPP fasteners also allow companies to adapt to new government regulations covering single-use plastic materials, which are taking effect in many European countries including the United Kingdom. These laws impose taxes on plastic products and packaging with less than 30% recycled content. Ecotach rPP fasteners enable companies to meet the 30% recycled content threshold and gain an exemption for the fasteners from single-use taxes.
Apparel manufacturers and brand owners that anticipate impending recycled-content laws and convert quickly to recycled polypropylene fasteners are well positioned to meet supply-related challenges that might arise in the recycled polypropylene market. They can also benefit from preferred pricing and incentives offered by fastener suppliers.
In addition to U.S and European production facilities, Avery Dennison Fastener Solutions has a production facility and warehousing sites in the Asia-Pacific region to support brands with tagging operations.
Fits Standard Application Tools
Avery Dennison Ecotach rPP fasteners are available in 0.5-inch to 3-inch sizes for different applications. They are compatible with standard Avery Dennison application tools, and users generally do not require new tooling. The fasteners come standard in natural color and can be ordered in various custom colors.
Posted: September 19, 2022
Source: Avery Dennison Corporation
