Ahlstrom expands its range of sustainable materials for pressure-sensitive adhesive labeling
AHLSTROM OYJ PRESS RELEASE SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 at 10:00 EEST
Ahlstrom, a global leader in fiber-based specialty materials, presents its expanded range of release and label papers for pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) applications at Labelexpo Europe 2025, helping to make labeling more sustainable and circular.
High-performance products with reduced environmental impact
The comprehensive product range includes innovative low-impact supercalendered release papers that help lower environmental impact and improve circularity, while maintaining the benefits of Ahlstrom’s proprietary Acti-V® technology: a highly efficient silicone coating and curing process, with opportunities to reduce the consumption of energy, catalysts, and silicone.
The Acti-V® RF liners, based on a carefully selected blend of cellulose materials, support circularity by using 15% post-consumer recycled (PCR) fibers in manufacturing. They are available in light yellow and white shade versions.
Acti-V® RF Natural liners include a blend of at least 50% unbleached fibers, at least 15% post-consumer recycled (PCR) fibers, and do not contain any dyes. The unique composition supports circularity and reduces the overall carbon footprint, while giving a distinctive natural look to the liner and the PSA laminate. At the same time, unbleached fibers make the liner even stronger and safer, even at a lighter basis weight.
Stevens Point acquisition expands the high-end PSA Label Papers offering
The recent acquisition of Stevens Point facility in Wisconsin, USA, further broadened Ahlstrom’s manufacturing platform and added unique complementary product capabilities, offering pressure-sensitive adhesive customers worldwide a larger number of high-quality, sustainable choices.
New PSA labeling portfolio includes best-in-class UniTherm® label papers for superior thermal transfer barcode printing, OptiPrime® semi-gloss papers for prime label UV inkjet printing and digital printing, and sustainable OptiPrime® semi-gloss label options that support circularity due to up to 30% PCR fibers content.
“Identifying better material solutions is our ongoing commitment. Ahlstrom's recent innovations in release and label papers have raised the standards of performance, process efficiency, and environmental impact. Building on that, our teams in Europe, US and Brazil continue to collaborate with customers and suppliers, striving to make the pressure-sensitive industry more sustainable and resilient”, says Marco Troglia, Vice President, Release Liners.
Beyond PSA labeling applications, Ahlstrom also supports customers worldwide with a wide offering of high-performance Glassine, SCK and CCK liners for use in specialty tape, industrial, fiber-composites, graphics, food and medical applications, with multiple production plants for release and label papers in Europe, North America and South America.
Meet Ahlstrom at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona
Ahlstrom will exhibit at Labelexpo Europe 2025, the world’s largest event dedicated to label and package printing. The event takes place from 16–19 September in Barcelona. Through its participation, Ahlstrom reinforces its commitment to the global Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) labeling industry. This is demonstrated by the wider range of innovative and sustainable products and the expanded manufacturing platform across Europe, North America, and South America.
For more information, please contact: Marco Martinez, Head of Product, Sustainability and Marketing, Release Liners
Tel. +39 011 9260 271; Mob. +39 348 3958504; marco.martinez@ahlstrom.com
To learn more about Ahlstrom’s release and label papers, please visit: Ahlstrom - Release and label papers
Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2024 amounted to EUR 3.0 billion and we employ some 7,000 people. Read more at www.ahlstrom.com.