Ethan Clarke
The plastic fasteners that hold price tags are often found on apparel, household items, and even food products. They are routinely used to attach brand-name tags to items such as pineapples, catalytic converters, and plant pots. These plastic fasteners have been around since 1964, and while they are useful for attaching tags, they contribute to plastic waste. However, companies like Avery Dennison are now creating eco-friendly alternatives, such as biodegradable fasteners that degrade within a year of exposure to soil organisms and fasteners made from recycled materials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recyclable | Yes |
| Company | Avery Dennison |
| Brand Name | Ecotach |
| Material | Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polyamide (PA), Polypropylene (PP) |
| Recycled Content | 30% - 90% |
| Source of Recycled Material | Recycled plastic bottles, Recycled nylon carpets, Recycled takeout containers |
| Environmental Benefits | Reduces landfill load, Eliminates plastic waste, Reduces microplastics |
| Degrades in | Soil, Landfill |
| Time to Degrade | 1 year in soil, 45 days in landfill |
| Colors | 13 standard colors, Pantone-matching available |
| Shape | I-shaped, 11 other shapes |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic fasteners are made from recycled materials
Plastic fasteners are a common sight, often used to attach price tags to apparel and household items. However, concerns have been raised about their environmental impact, given that they are made from plastic. In response, companies like Avery Dennison have introduced eco-friendly alternatives, such as the Ecotach™ fasteners, which are made from recycled materials.
Avery Dennison's Ecotach™ fasteners are designed with sustainability in mind. They are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), with each fastener containing at least 90% post-consumer waste (PCW) plastic derived from recycled plastic bottles. This means that for every roll of 834 fasteners, the landfill load is reduced by more than eight plastic bottles. The fasteners are also available in 13 standard colors and can be Pantone®-matched upon request.
In addition to the rPET fasteners, Avery Dennison offers another eco-friendly option: fasteners made from recycled polyamide (rPA). These fasteners are produced using either 30% or 74% "post-consumer" waste from recycled nylon carpets. The use of recycled carpets has a significant environmental impact, with every master carton of fasteners eliminating 60 square feet (5.5 square meters) of carpet waste, equivalent to half the square footage of an average-sized bedroom in the US.
The company also offers the Ecotach bio-PP Fastener, which is made from 100% or 30% recycled polypropylene (rPP) derived from single-use takeout containers. By choosing the 100% recycled option, brands and retailers can substantially reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. For example, customers who use over 100 million 30% recycled fasteners annually can decrease the landfill load by up to 3,260 pounds (1,478 kg) of plastic takeout containers, and this number increases to 10,860 pounds (4,926 kg) when opting for the 100% recycled content fasteners.
The introduction of recycled materials in the production of plastic fasteners is a positive step towards reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of these ubiquitous products. By choosing these eco-friendly alternatives, companies can create a more sustainable future and promote environmental stewardship.
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They are designed to be eco-friendly and reduce waste
Plastic fasteners on price tags are designed with sustainability in mind, aiming to reduce waste and promote eco-friendliness. Avery Dennison, a leading company in this field, offers an extensive range of eco-conscious options. Their Ecotach™ fasteners are a notable example, made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) with a "Recycled" logo on the paddle. These fasteners contain at least 90% post-consumer waste (PCW) derived from recycled plastic bottles, significantly reducing the amount of plastic waste ending up in landfills.
Avery Dennison's commitment to sustainability extends beyond rPET materials. They also offer fasteners made from recycled polyamide (rPA), which utilizes "post-consumer" waste from recycled nylon carpets. This option provides a similar environmental benefit, reducing the landfill load by a substantial amount. The company's Ecotach Plastic Staples are another innovative solution, designed to degrade at an accelerated rate in landfill conditions, leaving no harmful microplastics behind.
The benefits of choosing recycled fasteners are far-reaching. For instance, a roll of 834 fasteners made from rPET can save more than eight plastic bottles from ending up in landfills. Similarly, opting for fasteners with 30% rPA content can reduce the landfill burden by 2.97 lbs (1.346 kg) of single-use plastic takeout containers. This impact increases significantly when choosing fasteners with 100% recycled content, saving 9.18 lbs (4.16 kg) of plastic waste per outer container.
Avery Dennison's focus on eco-friendly materials aligns with their role as a global designer and manufacturer of labels and packaging products. Their Ecotach bio-PP Fastener is a standout product, designed to degrade within a year of exposure to soil organisms, leaving no microplastics behind. This fastener offers a sustainable alternative to traditional polypropylene fasteners, which can take up to 30 years to break down, posing a significant environmental concern.
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$13.79
Plastic fasteners are used on a variety of products
The fasteners are often I-shaped, though there are now 12 shapes to choose from. They are made of plastic that is rigid enough to keep the tag in place but flexible enough to be fidgeted with. The invention of these plastic fasteners came about when one of the inventors, Bone, was playing with some of the fasteners that had been left on a radiator, softening them with the heat. This discovery led to the patent and market introduction of plastic fasteners in 1964.
Due to the environmental concerns surrounding plastic waste, companies like Avery Dennison have started to create eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastic fasteners. These new fasteners are made from recycled materials, such as polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) derived from recycled plastic bottles, or recycled polyamide (rPA) from recycled nylon carpets. The use of these recycled materials can significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfills.
Avery Dennison has also developed the Ecotach bio-PP Fastener, which is designed to degrade within one year of exposure to soil organisms without leaving behind microplastics. This innovation addresses the issue of regular polypropylene fasteners, which can take up to 30 years to break down. By offering eco-friendly alternatives, Avery Dennison and other companies are helping to reduce the environmental impact of the ubiquitous plastic fastener.
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They are manufactured and sold by Avery Dennison
Plastic fasteners on price tags are manufactured and sold by Avery Dennison, a company specialising in adhesive technologies with a broad range of products. These fasteners are commonly used in retail to attach price tags to clothing and other merchandise. Avery Dennison's plastic fasteners are made from a variety of materials, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). These materials are chosen for their durability and ability to securely attach tags to products.
Avery Dennison recognises the environmental impact of plastic waste and has taken steps to address this issue. The company offers a range of sustainable solutions for price tag fasteners, including recycled content and biodegradable options. They have developed a line of fasteners made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), which is created using post-consumer recycled materials, reducing the need for new plastic production.
Additionally, Avery Dennison has introduced a biodegradable option for their plastic fasteners. This alternative is designed to degrade over time when exposed to certain environmental conditions, such as sunlight and moisture. By offering this product, they aim to reduce the amount of persistent plastic waste in the environment. The company also promotes the responsible disposal of these fasteners, encouraging recycling and proper waste management practices.
Avery Dennison's commitment to sustainability extends beyond their products. They have implemented measures to reduce their carbon footprint and promote environmental stewardship throughout their operations. This includes investing in renewable energy sources, optimising their supply chain to minimise waste, and collaborating with organisations that promote sustainable practices.
Through their efforts in developing sustainable alternatives, promoting responsible disposal, and reducing their environmental impact, Avery Dennison is actively contributing to a more circular economy and a greener future for the retail industry. Their initiatives demonstrate a responsible approach to addressing plastic waste challenges, ensuring their products and practices align with environmental sustainability.
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Plastic fasteners have been used since 1964
Today, these fasteners are used on a wide range of products, from apparel to household items, and are even found inside catalytic converters and on animal parts in slaughterhouses. They are so ubiquitous that they have become symbolic of consumerism.
Despite their convenience, plastic fasteners have a significant environmental impact. A regular polypropylene fastener can take 20 to 30 years to break down. To address this issue, companies like Avery Dennison have developed eco-friendly alternatives, such as the Ecotach bio-PP Fastener, which degrades within a year of exposure to soil organisms and leaves no microplastics behind.
Avery Dennison's Ecotach fasteners are made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), with at least 90% post-consumer waste from recycled plastic bottles. The use of recycled materials reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, creating a substantial environmental benefit. These fasteners are also available in recycled polyamide (rPA), made from post-consumer waste from recycled nylon carpets.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some companies like Avery Dennison manufacture plastic fasteners made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) with at least 90% post-consumer waste (PCW) plastic from recycled bottles.
The environmental benefits of using recycled materials can be substantial. For example, every roll of fasteners reduces the landfill load by more than 8 plastic bottles.
Avery Dennison has also launched an eco-friendly fastener called the Ecotach bio-PP Fastener, which degrades within one year of exposure to soil organisms without leaving behind microplastics.
