Page 44 - Plastics News June 2023

taxed separately. Tesco supermarket
in the UK recently reported that plas-
tic taxation for labels accounts for ap-
proximately 10% of the total annual
plastics tax liability for one prominent
own-brand beverage line.
However, these benefits also come
with challenges for brands – not least
that of ensuring that an item adheres
to regulatory labelling requirements
and displays the pertinent information
for consumer understanding without
relying on external labels.

Coding and marking
There is a range of solutions for cod-
ing and marking label less PET bot-
tles; the most appropriate solution
quirements. tles without labels would make the for brands will depend on a number
process easier. Several of Japan’s key
Worldwide, PET is the most recycled of factors, including regional labelling
plastic, with recycling rates exceed- beverage companies are already start- requirements and whether the bot-
ing 50% in certain regions, including ing to promote labelless packaging in tles will be sold as part of a multipack
India, Europe, and South Korea, but their core beverage brands. or individually.
there is still a lot that can be done to By comparison, removing labels from For multipack bottles, it may be pos-
improve this figure. Removing labels PET can significantly reduce plastic sible to include compulsory labelling
from PET bottles is one such step waste – the Ministry of Environment requirements as part of the second-
– which is now being explored with of the Government of South Korea ary packaging, removing the need for
in in specific Asian beverag reported that removing all labels from coding on individual bottles. Bottles
markets, with other regional market- plastic water bottles could save the sold individually, however, will un-
places expected to follow suit. country 24.6 million tonnes of plas- doubtedly require new and innovative
tic waste per year – and simplify re-
For example, in December 2020, the coding methods.
Ministry of Environment of the Gov- cycling, as consumers and recyclers Laser coders can be used to add
ernment of South Korea launched don’t have to remove or dispose of product data such as nutritional in-
a campaign to promote kerbside plastic labels separately. The risk of formation, composition data, batch
incorrec bo identification also
disposal of transparent PET bottles codes, barcodes, recycling logos,
alongside new legislation prohibiting mitigated. and other graphics and text onto the
external labels on bottled water from Financially, too, labelless PET bot- body of PET bottles. The type of laser
January 2026. Ten major Korean min- tles can make sense, by reducing the used will be dependent on individual
eral water producers subsequently burden for manufacturers in regions brands parameters, including:
signed agreements to release new where plastic taxation has been im-
product lines using labelless PET bot- plemented. For example, in the UK, • The bottled beverage type: wa-
tles. The Japanese government, too, items of single-use plastic packaging ter and clear liquids will require a
has set out a plan to move towards that contain less than 30% recycled coding solution capable of achiev-
using 100% recycled plastic packag- content are taxed at £200 per tonne. ing a darker contrast than dark-
ing by 2035. Japan has relatively strict While PET bottles can easily incorpo- coloured liquids such as colas and
rules for recycling plastic – consum- rate above 30% recycled content, la- other soft drinks.
ers must separate PET bottles from bels and caps – which do not typically
their labels and caps – and PET bot- contain any recycled material – are

44 PLASTICS NEWS June 2023