Brook + Whittle, based in Hamilton, Ohio, has received a US patent for its GreenLabel BlockOut technology, an innovative recyclable light-blocking shrink solution for PET packaging.

Source: LabelsandLabeling

The company has reported significant global interest from leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands eager to find technologies that align with their 2025 recyclability goals.

This latest offering from Brook + Whittle allows brands to transition from problematic plastics to clear PET packaging, all while safeguarding their products with a specialized light-blocking coating. The packaging is designed to be fully compatible with current recycling processes, ensuring it does not compromise the recycling stream. The shrink sleeve can be recycled alongside the bottle flake and transformed into new PET packaging.

Completely Recyclable Shrink Sleeves

In contrast, other light-blocking shrink sleeves on the market often feature heavy black ink printing on the innermost layer of the label.

Since 2007, Brook + Whittle has been tracking the consumer packaged goods market to identify problematic and non-recyclable plastic packaging. Through its involvement in various trade groups, it became clear that clear rigid PET was the optimal recyclable plastic solution for the CPG industry. As early proponents of clear PET shrink films for shrink sleeve applications, the company encouraged many of its clients to adopt clear PET packaging, labeled with its PET shrink sleeves.

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) subsequently approved clear, crystallizable PET (cPET or PET-C) shrink film for recycling with rigid clear PET containers. Brook + Whittle played a key role in commercializing this material by using APR-approved wash-away inks for printing.

As the company continued its efforts in the rigid PET container sector, it identified that colored PET was not widely recyclable. Research into colorants in rigid PET plastic revealed that brands employed these additives to shield their products and ingredients from light exposure.

In response, Brook + Whittle collaborated closely with its suppliers to create a coating that effectively blocks UV-Vis light while adhering to the recycling guidelines established by the APR Design Guide.

The company's APR-recognized cPET shrink film incorporates recycling-compatible wash-away inks and features a functional barrier coating. This innovative combination effectively blocks up to 100 percent of light in the 200-900nm range while ensuring recyclability.