Businesses thinking about making their printed labels and other packaging more environmentally-friendly could take a leaf out of Ireland's book.

According to LetsRecycle.com, the country's packaging waste organisation Repak has reported that it achieved a 65 per cent recovery rate in 2010.

Repak is a concept launched by industry and the Department of the Environment and aims to meet European Union targets on waste over the coming years.

The amount of packaging on the market as a whole fell by 3.6 per cent, suggesting firms may be coming up with better ways of finding green materials to attach their peelable labels to.

"With greater participation and compliance through Repak we could achieve higher recycling and recovery rates," said the organisation's Andrew Hetherington, adding that he hopes to meet targets again this year.

Last month, Elizabeth Shoch from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition told Chemical & Engineering News that businesses using peelable labels for their products need to think more about how the rest of their packaging can be made greener.

Denny Bros Ltd , 5 September 2011