# 206 - The lesser known area of sustainability in packaging

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2023-07-31
- Length: 37m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability

## Summary

Adam Peak hosts Roz Bandy, VP of Sustainability at TLMI, and Adam Frey, Business Manager of Rolled Products at Wausau Coated Products, to discuss the sustainability challenges of label release liners. They explain that while paper release liners (85% of pressure-sensitive labels) are now recognized by ISRI as a high-quality recyclable commodity, the industry struggles to collect sufficient volume—specifically 50,000-pound truckloads—to qualify mills for recycling. The group proposes solutions like QR codes on core tags and shipping documents to help generators find local recyclers and avoid landfilling this energy-intensive material.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=0) Introduction: Adam Peak, Roz Bandy, and Adam Frey
- [8:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=517) Adam Frey on the nature and waste of label release liners
- [11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=696) Roz Bandy on ISRI recognition and the volume barrier
- [15:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=957) The PET vs. paper liner contamination issue
- [21:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=1272) Economics of recycling: tipping fees vs. recycler payments
- [24:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=1470) Wausau Coated's role in educating converters and mills
- [26:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging#t=1591) TLMI's initiatives: QR codes, maps, and EPR legislation

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- TLMI (company)
- Wausau Coated Products (company)
- ISRI (company)
- Specright (company)
- C-Lab (company)
- Deciphr.ai (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [40: Agglomerated Cork](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2018-08-03-40-agglomerated-cork) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Making garbage useful with Tom Szaky of TerraCycle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-08-17-making-garbage-useful-with-tom-szaky-of-terracycle) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-07-31-206-the-lesser-known-area-of-sustainability-in-packaging. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to People of Packaging.