Frequently asked questions
Find answers to the most common questions about label waste recycling with CELAB Europe.
What is a release liner? Can all release liners be recycled?
Release liner is the silicone-coated carrier, usually paper or film, from which a self-adhesive label is peeled during application. Once the label has been applied, the liner remains as a separate material stream.
The main release liner types used in self-adhesive labelling include paper-based liners such as glassine/SCK and CCK, and filmic liners such as PET; they can all be recycled through suitable collection and recycling routes. Recyclability depends on the recycling process applied and can be influenced by factors such as the material of the liner, colour, and contamination level.
In the case of paper-based liners, white or lightly tinted materials can be recycled back into paper when the appropriate process is applied, while any colour of release liner can be recycled in an open loop into other applications, such as construction panels or insulation material. (Read our study on the subject)
Practical message: release liner should be kept clean, dry and separated from other waste (including mixed paper or plastic waste), and acceptance should be confirmed with the selected collection or recycling partner before collection starts.
This avoids ranking the recycling solutions and provides information on the available recycling avenues based on the colour of the liner.
What will my leftover release liners be recycled as?
Paper-based release liners can be re-used, recycled as paper or liner material perfectly closing the loop, or repurposed into construction panels, insulation material, and shredded paper.
PET and other filmic liners can be mechanically recycled into polymer chips, flakes, granules or pellets. The final application depends on the polymer type, silicone level, contamination and the recycler’s process.
Is release liner recyclable and collectable in all European countries?
Release liner may be technically recyclable, but collection and recycling availability vary across European countries and regions. They depend on the material type, volumes, transport distance, local collection systems and the presence of a suitable recycler or circularity partner.
CELAB Europe provides an interactive map to help users identify companies that collect, recycle, repurpose or refurbish used liner and matrix. The map is the best current reference because partner coverage can change over time.
Practical message: use the CELAB Europe interactive map and filter by country, material type and service type. Confirm the acceptance criteria directly with the listed partner.
What are the environmental benefits of recycling release liner?
Recycling release liner has multiple crucial environmental benefits:
- it diverts waste from landfill and incineration (Significant carbon emission decrease),
- can produce high-quality recycled paper products even closing the loop by becoming again high-quality release liner,
- reduces the need for new virgin material, and
- contributes to reducing a company’s environmental footprint.
I'm afraid my volumes of leftover release liner are too small, what should I do?
Some collectors can accept very small quantities of release liner. Our recommendation is to contact several partners via our interactive map, even if you have small volumes. Indeed, some programmes might accept small volumes and pool them across generators.
CELAB Europe’s interactive map will help you identify the right partner for your volume and geography. Taking action will help increase awareness for other release liner generators in your area.
How much does it cost to get my leftover release liner collected?
Collection arrangements and any related costs are determined independently by each collection or recycling partner. They may depend on factors such as material type, quantity, location, collection frequency and handling requirements.
CELAB Europe does not set, recommend, benchmark, compare or coordinate collection prices or commercial terms. Please contact the relevant solution provider directly through the CELAB Europe map to discuss service availability and commercial arrangements.
What should I do to get my used release liner collected for recycling?
Identify suitable collection or recycling partners through the CELAB Europe interactive map. Filter by country, material type and service type, then contact the most relevant partners directly.
Where possible, prioritise a partner located close to the site to reduce transport distance and simplify logistics.
Before collection starts, agree the accepted material types, whether liner and matrix must be kept separate, storage requirements, minimum volume, collection frequency, contamination limits and cost.
Practical message: many programmes use dedicated boxes, cages, bags or bales. The selected partner should confirm the required format.
Release liner should be kept clean, dry and separated from other waste (including mixed paper or plastic waste), and acceptance should be confirmed with the selected collection or recycling partner before collection starts.
We don't have the operational set-up to separate release liner waste. How should we proceed?
Start with a simple dedicated container for used release liner. The container should be clearly labelled, kept dry and protected from general waste, liquids, food waste and foreign materials.
Staff should be instructed to keep liner separate from matrix, label remnants, cores, tapes, plastics and other production waste unless the collection partner has confirmed that these materials are acceptable in the same stream.
A small pilot is often the best first step: choose one line, one material type and one clean collection point, then expand once the process is stable.
What does the EU Waste Framework Directive mean for release liner recycling?
The EU Waste Framework Directive sets the EU framework for waste management and establishes the waste hierarchy: prevention first, then preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery and, as the least preferred option, disposal.
For used liner waste, this supports recycling where technically, environmentally and economically appropriate. It does not mean that every liner is possible to be collected and recycled across Europe. Practical recycling depends on material type, separation, contamination level, and available collection and recycling routes.
Find answers to the most common questions about matrix waste.
What is matrix material and can all matrix be recycled?
Matrix refers to the surrounding areas of the label material that result when the labels are die-cut from labelstock material at label converters.
Matrix is composed of a face material that is predominantly paper or plastic that can be partially printed, and a layer of adhesives. The presence of adhesives on paper face stock raises technical challenges in paper mills. When the matrix is based on plastic, the adhesive is less problematic and some recyclers that have already developed processes to overcome this issue are listed on CELAB Europe’s interactive map.
What can my leftover matrix be recycled as?
Matrix is a more variable material: It normally contains face material and adhesive, and it may be paper-based, plastic-based or a mixed structure. Some specialised partners can recycle or repurpose selected matrix streams, but acceptance is strongly dependent on composition and cleanliness. Matrix can be repurposed into outdoor decking material and road construction products.
Practical message: please do not assume that liner and matrix can go into the same stream. They should be assessed separately with the collection or recycling partner. Thank you.
Find answers to the most common questions about set-up material.
What is set-up material and can all set-up material be recycled?
Set-up material is waste generated during machine set-up, adjustment, changeover or trial runs. It may include liner, labelstock, matrix, offcuts, splices or other production residues. It is also known as startup material.
Not all set-up material can be recycled as a mixed stream. Recycling depends on the material type, contamination level and the requirements of the selected recycling partner. Where possible, set-up material should be kept clean, dry and separated by material type.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us and we’ll help you directly.
We connect the right people to enable and grow a more circular economy for label materials.
Working together, we will create greater circularity for our products by enhancing and promoting matrix and release liner recycling in Europe.
© Copyright CELAB Europe. All rights reserved.
Our hosting is climate positive!
This website is hosted by Raidboxes: the eco-friendly hosting provider.