The Hague, the Netherlands – Afera, the European adhesive tape association, has released a new position paper on the Status of Adhesive Tapes under the Single-use Plastic Directive (SUPD) as part of the work undertaken by the Advocacy Workstream of Afera’s Flagship Sustainability Project (AFSP). The goal is to offer background information and guidance to Afera members to support them in their communications with customers. 

The EU “Single-Use Plastic (SUP) Directive” or SUPD was approved at the European Union level in June 2019 with the aim to reduce the amount of plastic marine litter arisingfrom the use of single-use plastic products as well as fishing gear. The SUPD establishes measures aiming at reducing consumption, introducing design and/or marking requirements, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for producers of some SUP products, as defined in the Annex to the SUPD. 

The position paper provides an interpretation of what the impact of SUPD is on adhesive tapes today and in the medium term, as well as when the directive is reviewed a few years from now.  

It is important to note that adhesive tapes, considered articles under the REACH regulation, are composed of several constituents. These include a carrier material or backing, adhesives, and in some cases, a release liner with a release coating.  

The nature of the carrier material is very diverse, including several options incorporating plastics as films, non-woven materials, etc. Adhesives used are also diverse but largely consist of synthetic polymer adhesives. Some tapes incorporate a release liner made from paper or a polymer film coated with a release coating, typically a silicone polymer.  

Citing the position paper, Pablo Englebienne, Regulatory Affairs Manager at Afera says, “In the current implementation of the SUPD, there are no direct measures influencing the design or use of adhesive tapes. However, the scope of this Directive may be broadened to other single-use products in future iterations, which will require further evaluation.”  

For more information, please contact AFSP@afera.com  

About Afera Flagship Sustainability Project (AFSP) 

Launched in 2021, Afera Flagship Sustainability Project (AFSP) aims to translate the European Green Deal (EGD) to the adhesive tapes industry. AFSP aims to make harmonized calculation methods available for evaluating the environmental impact of adhesive tapes, establish the best available techniques for the management of waste from adhesive tapes, and provide information to members on the impact of the EGD on the tape industry through links between Afera, the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders.  

About Afera 

Aferaconsists of 120 members in 20 different countries, uniting the decision-makers and creative minds of the European tape value chain in a total commitment to making the adhesive tape industry future-proof. As a non-profit organisation, Afera provides a medium for tape trade expertise to enhance the product, the business, and the future of the adhesive tape market in Europe. Afera members represent more than 80% of the European tape volume produced.