FINAT has announced the winners of the FINAT Sustainability Awards Competition 2026 during the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives, HERMA GmbH and Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Adhesive Technologies were recognised for solutions that support bottle reuse and glass recycling, improve compatibility with established recycling streams, and replace fossil-based inputs with renewable materials.

Selected from 34 entries and twelve finalists across three categories, the winning initiatives demonstrate how targeted innovation in labels and adhesives can contribute to more sustainable packaging while maintaining technical performance and commercial relevance.

2026 winners by category

Category 1 – Reduction of environmental impact

SH6020-W PLUS — Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives

SH6020-W PLUS is an adhesive designed to allow one label solution to perform across both reusable and single-use glass packaging. The judges appreciated it combines secure adhesion during use with effective wash-off, supporting bottle reuse without compromising glass recycling and offering broad applicability on existing labelling equipment.

The other finalists in this category were:

  • STARDIRECT™ — All4Labels Group GmbH. A direct-to-container decoration technology that removes the conventional label substrate and die-cutting matrix. It can reduce plastic use by up to 57%, fit up to 40% more decorations per reel and lower global warming potential by up to 32% compared with conventional alternatives.
  • SILCOLEASE™ RE: circular silicones for low-carbon release liner solutions — Bluestar Silicones (formerly Elkem Silicones). A drop-in release-coating solution using 100% chemically recycled silicone polymers. Industrial trials have validated performance at speeds up to 1,200 m/min, with carbon-footprint reductions of up to 70% at polymer level and more than 40% at coating level.
  • Label-Lyte™ RLC M30 — Jindal Films. A commercially available European BOPP label-film range containing 30% independently certified post-consumer mechanically recycled polypropylene, including technically demanding white cavitated constructions, while retaining established converting and application performance.
  • UPM Raflatac Carbon Action PP Label — UPM Adhesive Materials. A label material combining 30% ISCC PLUS-certified bio-circular face film with wash-off recycling compatibility. Its carbon-footprint reduction is quantified through an externally validated life-cycle assessment process.
  • COMBISTEAM LWPET — CCL Sleever Machines. An integrated machine-and-material system using 20-micron sleeves, reducing film thickness and heat requirements by 50%. The system is designed for continuous high-speed operation and can also process next-generation recyclable sleeve films containing recycled content.

Category 2 – Optimisation of recycling

72Hpw permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive for optimal PET and HDPE recycling — HERMA GmbH

The 72Hpw permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive combines reliable in-use performance with compatibility across PET, HDPE and glass recycling applications. Extensive testing supports its use as a practical solution for multiple packaging and recycling streams. The judges liked the strong combination of market impact and proven performance.

The other finalists in this category were:

  • Coldwater washable PP — Koninklijke Geostick B.V.. A recyclable label solution for rigid PP packaging, developed with Avery Dennison and validated by the Nederlands Testcentrum voor Plastics. It supports mono-material packaging while maintaining reliable printing, converting and application performance.
  • PET recyclable RFID technology recognised by APR — Avery Dennison. An RFID tag designed to separate cleanly from PET during mechanical recycling, reducing contamination while retaining digital identification functionality. The technology has received recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers and is undergoing European validation.
  • Clean recycling of PET bottles in established processes using acResin® UV 3532 as PSA label — BASF SE. A pressure-sensitive adhesive enabling high-clarity film labels to wash off during established PET recycling processes. RecyClass approval confirms compatibility with European PET recycling, allowing premium no-label-look designs without compromising recyclability.

Category 3 – Renewable materials

Bio-based Ethyl Acetate (Bio-EtAc) as a Drop-in Renewable Solvent for Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives — Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Adhesive Technologies

Henkel’s Bio-EtAc provides a renewable alternative to fossil-based ethyl acetate for acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives. The judges commented, ‘The drop-in solution is widely applicable and readily available, while maintaining performance and reducing reliance on fossil resources.’

The other finalist in this category was:

  • Tyvek® with Renewable Attribution for Tags & Labels — DuPont de Nemours, Inc.. An ISCC PLUS-certified mass-balance solution using renewable raw-material attribution while retaining established Tyvek® performance. At 100% renewable attribution, its cradle-to-gate product carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 95% compared with conventional Tyvek®.

Practical innovation across the label value chain

The three winners reflect complementary routes towards more sustainable packaging: enabling reuse without hindering recycling, designing adhesives to work with established recycling processes, and introducing renewable feedstocks without compromising functionality. Together with all twelve finalists, the entries underline the role of collaboration and proven, scalable solutions in advancing sustainability across the label value chain.

The FINAT Sustainability Awards provide a platform for the label industry to share excellence and proven best practice. By highlighting solutions that combine environmental progress with technical performance and commercial relevance, FINAT aims to accelerate learning and collaboration across the whole value chain.

For more information on the competition, visit https://www.finat.com/events/sustainabilityawards