Topeka, Kansas -- The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) has announced the release of a new report detailing the results from a newly completed study on the recycling of fiber-based materials with transfer metallic decoration.

In 2020, as sustainability issues came to the forefront of the print decorating industry, FSEA commissioned a study to be undertaken by the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute. The comprehensive testing demonstrated that transfer metallic decorated paper and board do not create problems in the recyclability/repulpability of paper and/or board in a common repulping process. The new study now available through FSEA has taken a further step to test transfer metallic decorated fiber-based materials and demonstrate that it actually is being recycled by Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) throughout the United States and North America. Through extensive testing at the Van Dyk Technology Center, the study demonstrates that fiber-based transfer metallic decorated materials are recyclable and currently are being sorted by MRFs to be included in the recycling stream.

The testing and results are intended to provide broad direction and to point consumers, Consumer Products Groups (CPGs), Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and marketers toward resource-efficient recycling data for fiber-based packaging and printed materials. This study demonstrated how transfer metallic decorated materials can be collected, separated and recovered from the waste stream and be efficiently recycled. Various products and packaging formats with metallic decoration have been questioned in the past. The Van Dyk study proves reprocessing and repurposing of transfer metallic decorated materials don’t fall into the misinformation trap.

“FSEA believed it was vitally important to take an additional step in our sustainability efforts and demonstrate that transfer metallic decorated paper/board is being recycled at the MRFs,” stated FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “Having the first study on how metallic decorated paper/board is recyclable and now this report confirming that it is being recycled helps the association tell the full story to brand owners, Print Service Providers (PSPs) and consumers.”

For further information or to receive a copy of the study, contact FSEA at 785.271.5816 or email [email protected].