Recyclable bags & environmentally friendly labels

Is that even possible?

Less trash! More responsibility!

Does it even exist? Let's get one thing straight: the perfect, sustainable label? It doesn't exist. Even if many advertise it. The best label is still no label at all. And yes, even our recyclable bags and packaging solutions have an ecological footprint. But: At Labelisten, we make it as sustainable as possible. With environmentally friendly labels, sustainable label materials, recyclable bags and partners such as Interzero, who make a difference in recycling. No green fairy tales, just honest information, real solutions and a clear focus: less waste, more responsibility.

From wishful thinking to reality: this is how sustainability works at Labelisten

Sustainability sounds simple, but it isn't. Truly recyclable bags and environmentally friendly labels must be designed in such a way that they can be reused or recycled cleanly. In reality, however, most composite materials end up in the rubbish – or straight into incinerators.

Over 200 kg of packaging per person per year – and Germany is the sad leader in Europe. The majority of this is disposable. Non-separable. Non-recyclable.

This has to change. And we're tackling it: with smart material choices, recyclable designs and clear communication. Because at Labelisten, sustainability means no greenwashing, but real improvements – in labels, bags and packaging solutions.

What really matters in sustainable packaging

Bio-based plastics sound great at first – after all, they are made from renewable raw materials such as corn. The key point is that the carbon they contain was already part of the natural cycle, so it does not come from the earth. Sounds good, right?

But: their production requires land, fertiliser, water and energy, and competes with food cultivation. In the end, much of this packaging ends up in residual waste because it is neither recyclable nor compostable.

For us, sustainability means developing packaging solutions that work in practice and remain in the cycle. Not every "organic" label is automatically better – what matters is the end result: less waste, more future!

Recyclable bags instead of paper packaging

Paper packaging requires a lot of water, energy and chemicals. And to ensure that it actually does what it's supposed to do, such as protecting against moisture or odours, it is often coated. The problem is that this makes it impossible to recycle.

Our recyclable bags made from monomaterials are truly sustainable: they require less energy to manufacture, are fully functional for packaging and, ultimately, offer a real chance of being recycled. Environmentally friendly labels and packaging that deliver what they promise!

Can a plastic bag really be the right solution?

A label on a plastic container must be considered contamination of the packaging material. In the worst case, this makes the container non-recyclable. So-called near-infrared scanners in automatic sorting plants recognise the different types of plastic. If the container is made of PET and the label is made of PP, the scanner cannot clearly identify it and the container is sorted out.

Therefore, the next step is as follows:

Packaging without labels, meaning no contamination. A mono-plastic bag that is certified recyclable! Why plastic? It is ideal for the material cycle, lightweight, robust, has a food-safe barrier and can be recycled with less energy than paper. To develop a better material cycle, we need single-type, optimised packaging so that we hardly need any new plastic and can keep making new packaging from old plastic. That's exactly what our plastic pouch does!

And if it has to be a label?

Then of course we can do that too. And with passion! That's why you can order exactly what you need from us. Our production waste is reduced to a minimum, and we require almost no set-up material. This is made possible by smart partial automation – because technology also opens up opportunities in this system change. Our range includes papers and films made from recycled materials, with washable and removable adhesive.

Sustainable packaging begins with the decision to use less

No more waste – we mean it. Since day one, we have focused on minimal material use, green energy and recyclable packaging solutions. But that's not enough. Because packaging is still packaging – and sooner or later it ends up in the rubbish. The only question is: how much and how recyclable?

In 2023, Frank was a keynote speaker at HP in Israel, where he talked about exactly that: our mission for a world without waste. Curious? Then take a look!

"The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important for MakeCake. Here too, we have a partner at our side in the form of Labelisten."

Joana, founder of MAKECAKE

#getinPouch #getinLabel

Ready for more sustainability?

If you've read this far, we respect you – you're serious about sustainability. And so are we! We continue to work on recyclable bags, environmentally friendly labels and more, always searching for solutions that truly make sense.