A4 Labels launches Ocean Action Labels range

UK label manufacturer A4 Labels has announced the launch of its new Ocean Action Labels range, made using ocean-bound plastic, giving brands a practical way to reduce their reliance on virgin fossil-based materials while helping tackle marine plastic pollution at its source.

The new range uses ocean-bound plastic waste at high risk of reaching the sea from coastal areas with poor or non-existent waste management, as the basis for its label material. Ocean-bound plastic is estimated to account for around 80% of plastic marine litter, and A4 Labels’ new range offers brands a way to help reduce that leak while switching to a more sustainable label option.

Designed to support environmentally conscious brands without compromising on performance, the new Ocean Action Labels range includes: White and clear top-coated PP film made from chemically recycled ocean-bound plastic; ISCC PLUS certification using the mass balance approach; identical properties to standard PP film, with no changes needed to existing packaging processes; and are suitable for demanding applications, including food and cosmetics packaging.

Unlike many sustainable alternatives, A4 Labels says the material is a genuine drop-in solution. Because it’s chemically recycled, it holds the same performance qualities as virgin PP film, meaning brands can increase the recycled content of their packaging without altering their existing labelling processes or equipment.

Only around 10% of plastic waste is currently recycled globally, A4 says, with the majority ending up in landfill, incineration, or the natural environment. Nearly 13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, a figure that continues to rise. A4 Labels’ new range gives brands a direct way to be part of the solution, by choosing a label material that helps intercept plastic waste before it reaches the sea.

The launch builds on A4 Labels’ existing sustainability commitments, including its Eco-Pledge partnership with Seven Clean Seas, and reflects the company’s continued focus on giving brands practical, accessible ways to reduce their environmental impact without added cost or complexity. To date, via its partnership with Seven Clean Seas, A4 Labels’ has supported the removal of 4231kg of plastic waste from the ocean and cleaned 29,154 meters of Indonesian coastline – equivalent to 266 football fields – one of the regions most affected by marine pollution.