Kuala Lumpur– UPM Raflatac has launched Ocean Action labels, the world’s first label made from Ocean Bound Plastics (OBP) sourced predominately from Malaysia using a mass balance approach.

Mass balancing means enabling the gradual shift to a sustainable economy by allowing fossil and virgin materials to be replaced with sustainable ones, like recycled plastics waste.

The new innovative label material is made possible through a collaboration with multiple partners including Malaysia’s Heng Hiap Industries (HHI), Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Taghleef Industries. 

UPM Raflatac is a global producer of labelling materials from Finland. In Malaysia, it has a manufacturing plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor. UPM Raflatac is leading in sustainable labelling through its innovative self-adhesive label materials and services. 

The Ocean Action label material is available as white and clear top-coated polypropylene (PP) films. Complete with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified glassine and post-consumer recycled content (PET PCR) liners, it is a robust sustainable solution.

These label materials are a perfect fit for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), such as household goods, personal care, packaged foods, and beverages. 

Ocean bound plastic is abandoned plastic waste recovered from areas up to 50km inland from waterways, defined as “at risk of ending up in the ocean” by Ocean Bound Plastic Certification (OBPCert) under the Zero Plastics Oceans NGO. 

According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 60% of the estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic that enter the world’s oceans each year is contributed by China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Malaysia ranked highest among the six countries analysed in terms of annual per-capita plastic packaging consumption, at about 16.8 kg per person.

According to a Science Advances study, more than a thousand rivers are accountable for 80% of plastic waste found in the ocean, with the Klang River named among the top contributors[3].

The world desperately needs more sustainable and commercially viable ways to recycle post-consumer plastic. The United Nations has recognised the need to recycle more post-consumer plastic and has launched a new plastic pollution treaty in 2021. OBPCert has estimated that ocean bound plastic generates 80% of plastic marine litter.

Today, only around 10% of plastic waste globally is recycled, while the rest ends up at landfills, in incineration, and leakage to nature or oceans. One solution to this problem lies in creating markets for products made from ocean bound plastic.

In Malaysia, only 24% of 1.4 million tonnes of disposed plastic waste in 2019 were recycled as secondary material according to country’s Environment and Water Ministry.

Meanwhile, 63% were either left at sanitary landfills, illegal dumping sites or burned, while the rest leaked into the environment, and 3% were used for energy generation[4]. The Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap, 2021 – 2030 targets 76% of plastic waste to be collected for recycling purposes by 2030[5].

“The new innovative Ocean Action label material is the latest step in our conservation journey. It does not only help prevent the plastic waste from ending up in the oceans but also offers brand owners the possibility to meet their recycled content targets for packaging. The Ocean Action label material is an easy-to-use drop-in solution created especially for food and cosmetics end-uses as it has exactly the same performance as the current fossil-based labels,” says Eliisa Laurikainen, Business Development Manager from UPM Raflatac.

UPM Raflatac’s collaboration with multiple partners in the value chain is necessary to make circular economy a reality. At the first stage, HHI, the Malaysian-based plastic recycling company collects and sorts the ocean bound plastic waste with its partners, predominately in Malaysia.

HHI has OBP certification under Zero Plastic Oceans program that ensures the responsible sourcing, proper collection and management of the ocean bound plastic waste.

After collecting and sorting the ocean bound plastic waste, HHI uses chemical recycling to convert the waste into pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil is then used by SABIC to create high-quality PP plastic granulates.

After SABIC, the plastic granulates are used in the process in which the film manufacturer Taghleef Industries produces the label film that is used to produce the final label material by UPM Raflatac.

“We are pleased to partner with UPM Raflatac alongside SABIC and Taghleef Industries towards a cleaner future for Malaysia and the world. Our shared commitment to reshape the way we reuse and recycle plastics will address environmental and societal challenges in a lasting, meaningful way,” said Seah Kian Hoe, HHI Chief Executive Officer.

The plastic waste used in the value chain of making Ocean Action label material is certified under the Zero Plastics Oceans program, and the final label material under ISCC PLUS.

[3] https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/24/interactive-identified-as-source-of-plastic-waste-into-the-sea-klang-river-faces-major-cleanup

[4] https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/06/24/interactive-identified-as-source-of-plastic-waste-into-the-sea-klang-river-faces-major-cleanup