ITW ShineMark, WestRock Partner in European Initiative to Eliminate Plastic Waste from Printing

Foils manufacturer ITW ShineMark has collaborated with WestRock on a program in Europe to eliminate plastic waste, not only from consumer packaging but also from the production process involved in cold foil application.

ITW ICF2 Cold foil is a popular choice for decorative and brand security purposes because it is a plastic-free effect compatible with recyclable and biodegradable paper carton packaging. One challenge is that cold foil requires a plastic film carrier, which is removed during application. To eliminate this waste factor, WestRock partnered with ITW Shine-Mark for a solution.

“We would not be here today if we were not committed to the circular economy,” said Anne Cecile Sabo, global category manager at WestRock. “With fiber as the basis for our packaging business, we’ve always been committed to sustainable forest management and replacing plastic with fiber-based materials. Packaging consumers care about this alternative.”

With this European PET recycling pilot in place, ITW ShineMark is looking to perfect the process and to expand it globally.