Feb 13, 2025
SATO Corporation, a global leader in auto-identification and labeling solutions, has developed and validated a recycling program for silicone-coated release liners, a byproduct of label manufacturing. Following successful trials, the company launched this initiative in January 2025 at its Kitakami Operations facility in Iwate, Japan. The program will recycle approximately 19 tons1 of release liners annually, transforming what was previously considered waste into a valuable resource and reducing CO2 emissions.
Release liner recycling process
- 1.Liner waste produced at SATO Kitakami factory
- 2.Shredding and pressing at recycler
- 3.Recovered paper dissolved at paper mill
- 4.Resale by paper processor
The Kitakami factory, which produces adhesive labels including RFID for SATO's global customer base, generates roughly 1.56 tons of release liner waste each month during label production. These release liners—the paper backing that protects adhesive labels—have traditionally been difficult to recycle due to their silicone resin coating, leading to their disposal as waste.
Recognizing its responsibility as a label manufacturer, SATO partnered with several companies to develop a viable recycling solution. This initiative reflects SATO's commitment to sustainability and resource conservation, working toward a circular economy that maximizes resource efficiency while minimizing waste.
SATO is committed to expanding its sustainability efforts by increasing recycling rates and exploring new ways to recycle various types of waste.
1.SATO internal estimate
About SATO
SATO (TOKYO:6287) designs and manufactures hardware, labels and tags and develops software to integrate with third party offerings as automatic identification solutions. These solutions streamline workflows, enabling data capture and visualization for a connected world of productivity, safety, reassurance and sustainability. By giving things a digital identity, SATO helps businesses in retail, manufacturing, food, health care and transport & logistics run smoothly. Founded in 1940, SATO has a presence in 26 countries with a workforce of over 5,700. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, it reported revenues of 143,446 million yen ($992 million*).
More information about SATO can be found at www.sato-global.com.
*Based on an average exchange rate of 1 USD = 144.58 JPY
