Afera, the European association representing the self-adhesive tape industry, has released guidelines for the sustainable usage of adhesive tapes.

Source: SustainablePlastics

Adhesive tapes can play a crucial role in driving sustainable innovations across various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, energy, and consumer goods. Afera’s guidelines are designed to streamline the tape selection process for end users, ultimately helping to reduce waste throughout the application lifecycle.

The report underscores the significance of choosing the right tape category and type for specific applications. Using the wrong type of tape, such as employing packaging tape for air ductwork, can lead to unnecessary waste and inefficiencies.

It is essential that the width, length, and thickness of the tape align with application needs to minimize waste. For example, industrial environments benefit from longer tape rolls to reduce production interruptions, while smaller sizes are ideal for manual tasks.

Afera has also highlighted initiatives aimed at promoting the eco-design of tapes, which include ISCC Plus certification and the use of its Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) tool. This tool, developed in collaboration with the German Adhesives Association and Sphera, assists in calculating carbon emissions throughout the tape supply chain.

The guidelines provide best practices for manual, semi-automatic, and automatic tape applications, focusing on precision and waste reduction. Proper storage, shielded from dust, sunlight, and physical damage, is vital for preserving tape quality and performance.

Afera emphasizes the need for recycling tape waste, including backing materials, release liners, and cores. Innovative chemical recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis and gasification, are being investigated to more effectively process mixed tape waste.