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Foilco announces re-pulpability test results

Print Solutions Packaging Solutions


Foilco is delighted to announce the positive results of an independent test undertaken to identify the re-pulpability of a foiled product.


Early last year the Foilco team approached the world's leading, independent testing company, SGS-IPS Testing – a lab that provides testing services for the paper, nonwovens, packaging, and disposable consumer products industries.


The aim was to prove that high percentages of foil coverage does not affect the re-pulpability of a product. For many years’ printers and foil suppliers have worked on the basis that a maximum of 80% foil coverage was allowed before the stamping foil would start to have an effect on a materials’ recyclable properties.


Foilco was becoming more aware that studios, agencies, large brands, and household names were starting to dictate the levels of foils used in creative projects for packaging and graphic applications due to their own misconceptions surrounding accepted industry standards. As mentioned, a 30% benchmark was accepted across all sectors, yet creatively, some brands' restrictions would not allow any more than 5% maximum foil coverage.


This led to the reduction of foils being specified in markets like greeting cards, labels and packaging under the guise of ‘accepted’ percentages.



Foilco approached SGS-IPS Testing to seek clarification on the matter and the results were greater than anticipated. This report provides creatives, printers, specifiers and brands with the confidence that 80% foil coverage of a product does not affect the re-pulpability of a recyclable substrate and, as such, can be recycled conclusively. The company aim to push the benchmarks even further and will be approaching SGS-IPS Testing again in the not too distant future.


As brands and designers turn away from using metallised laminated papers and boards, this independent research, showing such high percentage coverage with stamping foil, arrives at the right time.


The results can be requested via Foilco (SGS-IPS 01683-19)


For more information regarding Foilco’s environmental policies, products or support, e-mail hello@foilco.com


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