Compostable labels are now available in Australia and New Zealand and the best news is, you don’t need to compromise on function if you want to switch to compostable labels today. Even the adhesive is compostable! The labels and adhesive are certified to EN 13432, the European Industrial Composting Standard.

Thanks to an exclusive supplier agreement between Dutch company Bio4Life and Wedderburn, the labels come in a range of substrates that fully comply with standards for direct food contact (EC1935/2004 and FDA).

Since 2011, Bio4Life have been developing sustainable, self-adhesive labels as an alternative to plastic facestock. All label product components are carefully selected to ensure they are made from natural and renewable resources.

The Bio4Life range includes:

PaperWise – Natural or White

An environmentally friendly paper that has a beautiful, natural look with visible fibres made from sugarcane and agricultural waste (bagasse).

It is available in 2 stock types – Natural and white. The natural is unbleached for an organic look and feel, which emphasises the sustainability of the product. The white is naturally bleached and a great alternative to conventional white paper. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

PaperWise – Natural and White for Inkjet, Laser and copiers.

Natural and White PaperWise are also available as a sheet material with a heavy weight Kraft backing suitable for copiers, inkjet and laser printers.

MC Paper – General purpose white paper

A smooth top coating of white, wood-free and responsibly sourced FSC certified paper makes it ideal for high quality printing. This machine coated material is easy to process and allows a sharp printing image where colours appear bright and vibrant, suitable for printing barcodes QR codes and bold designs. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

MC Paper is also available as a sheet material with a heavy weight Kraft backing suitable for copiers, inkjet and laser printers.

Natureflex – Clear, White or Silver

A flexible, cellulose material that is made from responsibly sourced FSC wood pulp, it has the look and feel of plastic without the harmful impact on our environment. NatureFlex is moisture, oil and grease resistant because of the cellulose, making it more flexible than regular paper. Natureflex is available in clear (transparent), glossy white and metallic silver. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Thermal Eco – For Direct Thermal Over Printing

A paper that is heat sensitive and ideal for direct thermal printing. It is made from renewable materials responsibly sourced FSC accredited and PBA free. This is a non-top coated highly sensitive direct thermal material suitable for short life products i.e. transport labels, fresh food, scale labels. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Thermal Top coated PaperWise – For Direct Thermal Over Printing

A brownish high quality woodfree paper, made from agricultural waste (bagasse). Thermal Top coated heat sensitive. Ideal for direct thermal printing with a natural look. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Sylvicta (Clear Paper)

A frosted clear matt bio paper suitable for direct food contact, for transparent matt looking labels. Produced from renewable wood pulp. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Sylvicta is also available as a sheet material with a heavy weight Kraft backing suitable for copiers, inkjet and laser printers.

Vibers Miscanthus (Elephant Grass) Paper – Premium Natural Fibre Look

A beautiful high quality, natural, off-white paper made of Miscanthus (elephant grass) fibre and certified mixed cellulose.  The uncoated natural fibres also emphasize the natural content. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Vibers is also available as a sheet material with a heavy weight Kraft backing suitable for copiers, inkjet and laser printers.

MaterBi – Suitable for Compostable Fruit Labelling

 A white, biodegradable, flexible film, extruded from resin compositions of modified starch with modified polyesters, using starches, cellulose vegetable oils and their combinations.

The product is suitable for a variety of applications and performs very well for high quality prints. Perfect for fruit labelling, the product is ideal for use with bio-based and biodegradable packaging. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

Laminated PaperWise – Suitable for Dry Sachet Material or Banding Material

A high quality, woodfree brownish paper made from agricultural waste (bagasse). This material is bio based and has an uncoated natural fibre look. It is laminated with compostable film and also available with a metalised barrier layer if required.

Laminated PaperWise is approved for direct food contact making it ideal for direct and indirect food applications. It performs very well for high quality prints and is also suitable for heat sealing and wrapping purposes – a completely compostable packaging option for your product. 

PLA

PLA Clear is a transparent, high gloss film produced from renewable sources. It is resistant to oil, grease and moisture and can be used in humid conditions.

This material is ideal to pair with PLA packaging, or if you want a ‘no-label’ look. Approved for direct food contact with the BioTAK® S100 adhesive.

All labels and adhesive made from natural, renewable resources

What makes the Bio4Life range so unique is their commitment to ensuring they leave a minimal footprint on the environment. That’s why they only use materials that come from natural and renewable resources. This care and commitment to sustainability is then passed on to users without the need to compromise on the quality of their labels.

Most unique of all is their patented BioTAK adhesive. Again, it’s certified to EN 13432 the European Industrial Composting Standard, yet it’s permanently tacky, has a strong initial tack and adheres to a wide variety of substrates.

The BioTAK adhesive is made from a water-borne PSA based on a specially modified acrylic co-polymer. It also complies with EC1935/2004 and FDA (175.105) for direct food applications. Testing is always recommended and Wedderburn is happy to provide samples.

The Australian Government requires 100% of Australian packaging to be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier. The Bio4Life range of labels are an obvious choice for businesses looking to not only comply with the new regulations, but implement better labelling solution.

To investigate the full range of Bio4Life labels and their suitability for your business, contact Wedderburn.