Jeff Peterson, Foil & Specialty Effects Association
The use of metallic decorating processes for folding cartons and labels has continued to be a point of conversation for brand owners and others involved in the packaging marketplace.
The Foil & Specialty Effects Association’s (FSEA) Sustainability Committee, FSEA members and staff have developed several studies and findings to communicate pertinent and accurate information as it pertains to metallic transfer decorating technologies and sustainability.
Through these efforts, FSEA has created a presentation to provide a tool for its members and others in the industry and convey the association’s sustainability findings with a consistent message to the print community.
The presentation first discusses metallic decorating options available in the marketplace and the construction of metallic transfer foils to provide education on the process. The presentation then offers information on the negligible amounts of aluminum contained in metallic transfer foils. It includes details on the measurement of the aluminum and examples of how little aluminum is in the construction of metallic transfer foils.
The presentation also discusses the recent study commissioned by FSEA on the Repulpability of Foil Decorated Paper/Board. It provides information on how the study was conducted and the results, which includes details confirming that it is feasible to repulp paper that includes metallic transfer foil as it is done in common recycling settings.
The presentation also includes details on a separate cold foil transfer study conducted by Western Michigan University commissioned by FSEA member Eagle Systems. It discusses the scope of the study and details the conclusion that cold foil transfer samples submitted for the study were 100% repulpable and recyclable.
FSEA is working diligently to ensure accurate information is being disseminated as it relates to metallic transfer applications on paper/board. For more information on the presentation, as well as a copy of the Repulpability of Foil Decorated Paper/Board study, Western Michigan Cold Foil Transfer study and the press release on the negligible amount of aluminum in metallic transfer foils, contact Jeff Peterson at FSEA: jeff@fsea.com.
The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) provides a wide range of resources to help print finishing companies remain profitable today and into the future. From tangible benefits offered through cost-saving programs to educational opportunities (conferences, webinars, case studies and articles) to green initiatives proving the sustainability of foil decorated paper/board, the FSEA strives to provide its members with ideas, data and solutions to grow in today’s marketplace. For more information, visit http://www.fsea.com