Helsinki, Finland, 2016-04-28 09:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
PRESS RELEASE, 28 April 2016, at 09.00 a.m. CEST
Munksjö proves biodegradability of silicone coated paper release liner
Munksjö, a world-leading manufacturer of advanced papers products, and a leading suppliers of release papers for the Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) industry, has commissioned a third party laboratory analysis whose results reveal that the typical carrier of PSA labels - silicone coated glassine paper - meets biodegradability requirements of EN 14046:2003 standard.
Paper is made from fully renewable natural resources, is recyclable and biodegradable in a short time. Glassine papers are coated with a thin layer of silicone to serve as release carriers of PSA labels through printing cutting and application to a wide range of consumer and industrial products. The study intended to assess the impact of the addition of a silicone layer to the paper surface, on the biodegradability of the material.
“These results prove that even after silicone coating - normally performed by our customers - paper release liners remain biodegradable as the paper substrate they are based on”, said Marco Martinez, Product Manager Release Liners and Sustainability. “The renewability, recyclability and biodegradability of the wood fiber, derived from responsibly managed forests, combined with continuous advances in efficient papermaking technology, make paper a material with inherent and unique sustainability features. It is great to see an important element of paper’s sustainability further confirmed by this study.”
The analysis was performed on Munksjö’s 58 g/m2 glassine paper, coated on one side with approximately 1 g/m2 of silicone, which represent common conditions for release liners used as carriers of PSA labels. Samples were tested according to EN 14046:2003, which specifies a method for the evaluation of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of packaging materials based on organic compounds, under controlled composting conditions, over a period of 180 days. Over 3 test replicas, samples of one-side silicone coated paper exceeded an average biodegradability of 99%, largely exceeding the requirement of 90% set by the standard.
The study was performed by Ecol Studio, an environmental analyses laboratory accredited by Italy’s National Accreditation Body Accredia, in compliance with ISO 17025:2005 standards and EN 45000 European norms.
Munksjö Release Liners Business Area, one of Munksjö’s four business areas, is a global leading supplier of release papers for the PSA industry, with manufacturing sites in Europe and South America. All of them are certified according to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004, OHSAS 18001:2007, FSC® and PEFC™ Chain-of-Custody.
Munksjö Oyj
For more information, please contact:
Marco Martinez, Product and Sustainability Manager Release Liners
Tel. +39 011 9260271; Mobile + 39 348 39 58504; e-mail: marco.martinez@munksjo.com
Munksjö - Intelligent paper technology
Munksjö is a world-leading manufacturer of advanced paper products developed with intelligent paper technology. Munksjö offers customer-specific innovative design and functionality in areas ranging from flooring, kitchens and furnishings to release papers, consumer-friendly packaging and energy transmission. The transition to a sustainable society is a natural driving force for Munksjö's growth as the products can replace non-renewable materials. This is what "Made by Munksjö" stands for. Given Munksjö's global presence and way of integrating with the customers, the company forms a worldwide service organisation with approximately 2,900 employees and 15 facilities located in France, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil and China. Munksjö's share is listed on Nasdaq in Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.munksjo.com.