SUP Labeling Requirement for Single-Use Plastics: The SUP (Single-Use Plastic) Logo Supports the Development Towards Greater Sustainability

Nölken welcomes EU directive for better environmental compatibility of plastic products and labeling with SUP logo, but sees room for improvement.

Just over a year ago, on July 3, 2021, EU Directive 2019/904 came into force. The aim of the directive is to prevent and reduce the impact of certain plastic products on the environment—in particular, the marine ecosystem—and human health. For Nölken Hygiene Products GmbH, the environmental pollution caused by plastic products is also an important issue, which is why the company generally welcomes the new directive.

Increased demand for environmentally sustainable raw materials

For some time now, there has been a growing demand for sustainable products among end consumers. Single-use plastics and their environmental consequences are also repeatedly a topic here. With EU Directive 2019/904, labeling requirements on packaging or the product are mandatory for certain single-use plastic items.

This labeling requirement also affects the Nölken company in the manufacturing and production of wet wipes. For all wet wipe products with a plastic content in the non-woven material, labeling with the SUP logo was prepared and implemented comprehensively and as quickly as possible after the directive came into effect.

„The SUP logo has helped in customer discussions to better integrate the topic of sustainability and environmental compatibility into new and existing products and to draw attention to the issue,“ begins Daniel Kesseler, Head of Product Development at Nölken. „We still recommend to our customers to adapt products gradually and not to switch all at once. Natural fibers simply behave differently than synthetic ones. That's why a product change always requires a period of adjustment for the consumer.“

Need for improvement in labeling

For Nölken, the directive is fundamentally a step in the right direction. However, the company sees room for improvement regarding the labeling requirement. This is because the SUP logo requires the tray packaging to be printed with at least three colors. This not only incurs high additional costs but is also more harmful to the environment due to the additional ink applied.

„As a result, especially during the initial transition phase, the labeling missed its actual goal of increased environmental protection,“ says Sustainability Manager Christoph Lerbs. „Our goal is to design all products as sustainably as possible without compromising product quality and safety. This includes not only the product itself but also the packaging.“

It is already clear: a single-use plastic levy from the Federal Environment Agency will come and make plastic products more expensive in the future. For Nölken, this is all the more reason to tackle the issue of sustainability even more vigorously with her customers.