HERMA: Systematic recycling offsets shortages of raw materials
Last year, HERMA saved some 406 tonnes of CO2 through a special process for recycling left-over silicon-coated release liners. In this way it significantly cut back on waste and compensated for the CO2 emissions of its vehicle fleet.
Silicon-coated release liners are left whenever labels are used. Large quantities are generated, for example, in the food industry, chemicals industry and the logistics sector. Although this material is usually disposed of, it is ideal for reprocessing. This helps to protect our climate and combat the scarcity of certain raw materials.
For the eighth year in a row, HERMA, a specialist in self-adhesive technology based in Filderstadt, has collected and recycled enough release liners to offset the carbon emissions of its entire fleet of 78 cars. According to a certificate issued by Cycle4green (C4G), HERMA collected 201 tonnes of release liner waste from its adhesive material production in 2018 and made it available for a special recycling process. C4G and the paper manufacturer Lenzing helped to manufacture label paper and new release paper liners from the material. Both products are now being used by HERMA and other companies. If HERMA had manufactured them in the same quantities from virgin fibre, its CO2 emissions would have been some 406 tonnes higher. In comparison, the vehicle fleet of the family-owned company generated CO2 emissions of just under 400 tonnes.
Continued scarcity of raw materials
“In this way we’re not only making an important contribution to our environment, we’re also helping to combat the scarcity of raw materials,” says Jürgen Keller, sales director for industrial labels at HERMA. “On account of the extremely high demand in Asia, primarily China, and sustained market growth in Europe, we’re continuing to experience the same kind of bottlenecks that we had last year with materials like paper.” HERMA has been providing release liner waste from production to Cycle4green since 2010. “We must become accustomed to the fact that it will get harder and harder to procure the necessary raw materials,” says Keller. “For this reason I appeal to all label users with high levels of such waste to join us in the C4G recycling initiative. It’s worth the effort, not only because it benefits our environment, but because it helps to hold down the rising costs of raw materials.”
Cycle4green organises the collection of release paper waste in many European countries. Lenzing, a pioneer in “green” papermaking, handles recycling. Provided that at least five tonnes of material have been collected, Cycle4green will pick it up anywhere in Europe at no charge. The only condition is that the waste be sorted. Each year, some 360,000 tonnes of silicon-coated release paper is left over. Most of this is generated by companies that use labels.
More information on Cycle4green is available here: https://www.c4g.fi/
