In a major leap toward sustainable packaging innovation, Avery Dennison has unveiled the world’s first RFID label recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) for its compatibility with PET recycling setting a new benchmark for intelligent, recyclable packaging.
This breakthrough comes as brands worldwide face growing pressure to align with sustainability mandates and reduce packaging waste. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) a material widely used in food, beverage, personal care, and household product packaging plays a critical role in the circular economy. But until now, RFID-enabled packaging posed challenges in recycling due to label contamination. That changes with Avery Dennison’s new RFID label.
At the heart of this innovation is the integration of CleanFlake™ adhesive technology with Avery Dennison’s advanced RFID platform, which allows the label to cleanly detach from PET containers during the mechanical recycling process. The result? A dramatic reduction in contamination, leading to higher-quality recyclates and improved material recovery rates.
“This APR recognition is more than a technical milestone it’s a call to action for the packaging industry,” said Pascale Wautelet, VP of Global R&D and Sustainability at Avery Dennison. “By merging smart packaging with clean recyclability, we’re empowering brands to meet their sustainability goals without sacrificing traceability, inventory visibility, or product authentication.”
APR’s endorsement validates the label’s performance within North America’s recycling infrastructure and supports Avery Dennison’s broader strategy to enable smarter, greener packaging systems. The RFID tags not only facilitate better product tracking and waste reduction, but also offer a pathway to increased automation and transparency in recycling facilities.
Steve Alexander, President and CEO of APR, emphasized the importance of this advancement: “Solutions like Avery Dennison’s RFID label show how innovation can resolve real-world recycling challenges. We need more packaging to be designed with recycling in mind and this is a model example.”
Set to be commercially available later this year, the APR-approved RFID label could be a game-changer for brands striving to hit their recyclability targets while modernizing supply chains. Avery Dennison is also working with global certifiers to expand this innovation beyond North America, aiming for a truly circular impact across markets.