The packaging industry finds itself at a crossroads, balancing the rising consumer demand for sustainable solutions with increasingly stringent regulations on resource efficiency in production. How can companies meet these expectations while ensuring transparency throughout the supply chain? The answer could lie in the Digital Product Passport (DPP), an innovative tool offering tangible opportunities for the sector.
In a collaborative project with R-Cycle, an open traceability platform for the DPP, and flexible packaging converter Korozo Group, Henkel has demonstrated the benefits of implementing the DPP. With the growing pressure to develop green packaging, transparency along the supply chain has become a critical issue. Consumers and regulatory bodies want to know the origin of materials, their processing methods, and their end-of-life fate.
The packaging industry is also embracing the circular economy. The goal is not only to make packaging more efficient but also to ensure it can re-enter the production cycle once its useful life has ended. To achieve this, materials must be recyclable, and raw materials should come from sustainable sources wherever possible. Digital solutions are increasingly vital to meet these requirements.
The DPP: A Catalyst for Transparency
The DPP serves as a digital record of information regarding a product's composition, lifecycle, and sustainability aspects, making this information easily accessible. Following regulations such as the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP will become mandatory in many sectors from 2027. The DPP contains data on material composition, technical specifications, and recyclability, linked to a unique identifier, such as a QR code or RFID tag, facilitating traceability throughout the supply chain.
For the packaging industry, the DPP not only meets regulatory requirements but also significantly improves packaging sustainability. "The DPP enables seamless traceability throughout the supply chain, creating transparency and facilitating legal compliance," stated Philippe Blank, Head of Circular Economy at Henkel.
A functioning circular economy requires recyclable materials and, ideally, a high percentage of recycled raw materials integrated into the procurement phase. The goal is to recover materials to replace virgin resources. "Reducing raw material use and minimizing required resources is key to ensuring a sustainable future," Blank explained. Detailed material data simplifies collection and recycling, helping preserve resources and improve recycling rates.
Henkel Implements the DPP
Henkel has decided to actively test and implement the DPP in a joint project with Korozo Group and R-Cycle, reaffirming its commitment to making every package sustainable. A notable example is Henkel’s Loctite Liofol adhesive, used to reliably laminate stand-up pouches. This solvent-free adhesive is resistant to both chemicals and heat, making it ideal for high-speed packaging lines.
Each package produced with Loctite Liofol is labelled with a QR code linked to the R-Cycle DPP, ensuring that technical data, safety information, and environmental aspects are easily accessible. Henkel is collaborating with R-Cycle to extend this traceability, optimising both disposal and recyclability of the product.
Benedikt Brenken, R-Cycle’s director, explained:
The application with Henkel clearly demonstrates how relevant information about packaging components - such as the adhesive - can be recorded in the DPP and made available throughout the product’s lifecycle. This creates a defined level of transparency and easy traceability along the value chain, offering a decisive advantage in response to the growing demand for information.
Furthermore, Henkel records the carbon emissions generated during the production and use of the adhesive in the DPP. This information is crucial for complying with ESPR requirements and evaluating the product's carbon footprint across its lifecycle.
Actively Shaping the Transition for Processes and Materials
We are working to provide every customer with a sustainable product, derived from sustainable sources or with an excellent recyclability profile. As a supplier and brand owner, Henkel is uniquely positioned to cover much of the value chain. 80% of a product's environmental footprint is determined at the design phase,
explained Philippe Blank.
The Carbon Footprint (PCF) of individual components and the overall product plays a crucial role. In this regard, Henkel has developed extensive capabilities to identify savings potential and provide reliable data for Digital Product Passports and reporting needs. This data is particularly relevant for the recyclability of packaging and the obligation to use recycled raw materials.