Ravenwood introduces silicone calculator for linerless labels

Ravenwood Packaging has launched an online Silicone Weight Calculator designed to help label converters and brand owners quantify the amount of silicone used in linerless label structures.

The tool provides measurable data that can support packaging assessments under evolving regulatory frameworks including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility systems.

Calculator measures silicone as a percentage of label weight

The system uses parameters including label dimensions, total material weight, the number of silicone lines and coating weight to calculate the amount of silicone present in an individual label.

The result is then expressed as a percentage of the complete label weight, providing users with a clearer indication of how much the release coating contributes to the finished structure.

Example falls below 0.3% threshold

Ravenwood provides an example involving a 64.77 mm linerless label weighing 3.69 g and containing three 16 mm silicone lines applied at a coating weight of 1.5 gsm.

The calculator determines that the label contains approximately 0.00466 g of silicone, equivalent to 0.126% of the total label weight. This places the example below the 0.3% threshold associated with a green classification under the relevant RAM methodology.

Wraparound formats achieve green classification

According to Ravenwood, its traditional wraparound linerless formats, including C, D, slideable and full-wrap configurations, all achieve green classification when assessed through the new calculator.

The company argues that the data demonstrates how the silicone release coating represents only a very small proportion of the overall label structure.

Linerless labels remove conventional backing material

Linerless technologies eliminate the separate release liner used in conventional pressure-sensitive labels. Instead, controlled silicone and adhesive patterns allow labels to be wound directly onto themselves before application.

Removing the backing liner can reduce waste, increase the number of labels carried on each roll and lower storage and transport requirements across high-volume labelling operations.

PPWR increases demand for component-level data

As packaging regulation becomes more detailed, companies increasingly need to understand the contribution of individual coatings, adhesives and other components rather than assessing only the main substrate.

Tools that convert packaging specifications into measurable material percentages can help brand owners and converters prepare for fee modulation, recyclability assessments and compliance reporting.

Data becomes part of sustainability claims

The launch also reflects growing pressure on packaging suppliers to support environmental claims with quantitative evidence. Statements about recyclability or material efficiency increasingly need to be backed by documented calculations that customers can incorporate into their own reporting systems.

Ravenwood says the calculator was developed specifically to remove uncertainty around silicone content and provide users with information that can be evaluated directly against regulatory thresholds.

Calculator complements carbon assessment tool

The Silicone Weight Calculator sits alongside Ravenwood’s existing CO2 Savings Calculator, which compares the potential carbon savings of linerless labels with conventional self-adhesive alternatives.

Together, the tools demonstrate how label suppliers are increasingly combining material innovation with digital assessment tools, allowing packaging users to quantify both composition and environmental performance when selecting labelling formats.