Global Label Associations Unite on Sustainability
GLOUCESTER, MA—At the recent Global Label Associations’ Summit held in Barcelona, Spain, TLMI (Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute) was part of an overall industry initiative bringing together label associations around the globe to promote sustainability and environmental standards in every major global region.
Leaders from label industry associations around the world united in endorsing the industry’s focused commitment to a more sustainable and responsible future. The industry’s goals include further reducing the environmental impact of labels, encouraging more sustainable label materials and production processes, meeting changing industry and retailer-driven recycling targets, and working towards the continued reduction of waste.
Measures that global label associations, suppliers, and converters are already targeting include:
• Promoting environmental standards, such as the TLMI L.I.F.E. (Label Initiative for the Environment) Certification Program, that mandate accreditation by third-party auditors;
• Enhancing measures to inform, educate, and support narrow-web converters in meeting current and future environmental and sustainability targets;
• Supporting the use of materials and standards that encourage sustainable and renewable resources;
• Continuing industry development of solutions to maximize cost-effective recovery and recycling of pressure-sensitive labelstock waste;
• Highlighting the development and use of thinner, lighter label materials;
• Working towards further reduction in the amount of landfill waste and higher recovery and recycling rates; and
• Having a more prominent industry voice and input into global government, brand owner, packaging, and related organizations that are currently impacting environmental and sustainability issues relating to labels and label utilization.
“Moving forward, one of the most critical issues facing narrow-web converters, their customers, and their suppliers is sustainability,” comments TLMI chairman, Frank Gerace. “As the largest retailers in the world increasingly seek transparency throughout the supply chain, all of our companies will be impacted and held accountable for the environmental initiatives and standards we integrate into our facilities. It is essential that the world’s label associations come together to address these issues so that we may speak with a collective voice that is in the best interest of our respective members, and the industry as a whole.”
- Places:
- Barcelona
- GLOUCESTER, MA
- Spain