From internal fiber to final application, Saica builds a true circular system for adhesive tape

Saica Group has introduced a new 100% recycled paper-based adhesive tape, marking a notable shift in how paper mills approach reel protection and circular packaging.

Unlike typical “eco” product launches, this development is not positioned as an external alternative.

👉 It is an internally closed-loop system:

• recycled fiber produced by Saica Paper
• converted into adhesive tape by Saica Flex
• applied back onto Saica Paper’s own reels

In practical terms:

The material starts and ends within the same industrial ecosystem.

This is not just sustainability branding—it is process integration.

Why reel protection is a critical but overlooked application

In paper production, reel protection is not a minor detail.

It directly affects:

• edge damage during transport
• moisture exposure
• handling efficiency in converting

Traditionally, this has relied on:

• plastic tapes
• non-repulpable adhesive systems

👉 The problem:

these materials break the recycling loop at the mill level.

Saica’s solution targets exactly this weak point.

Repulpability: solving the real limitation of paper tapes

Paper-based tapes are not new.

But most of them face a critical limitation:

• adhesive contamination during recycling
• fiber recovery inefficiency
• incompatibility with repulping systems

Saica claims to have addressed this through:

• internal R&D testing
• optimized balance between adhesion and fiber recovery

👉 This is the key breakthrough:

not the paper backing—but the adhesive system compatibility.

Because in real recycling operations:

• if the adhesive fails → performance drops
• if the adhesive is too strong → recycling fails

Self-adhesive, linerless design: operational advantages

The tape is designed as:

• self-adhesive (no water activation required)
• linerless
• capable of smooth unwinding and overlap application

From a production standpoint, this matters.

Compared with water-activated tape (WAT):

• no additional activation systems required
• faster integration into existing workflows
• reduced operator complexity

👉 Especially in reel wrapping:

simplicity and speed often outweigh theoretical performance gains.

No machine modification required — the real adoption driver

One of the most practical aspects of this launch:

The tape runs on standard reel-wrapping machines.

No:

• equipment upgrades
• capital investment
• process redesign

👉 This is critical.

Because in industrial environments:

• even strong sustainability solutions fail
• if they require machine changes

Internal validation: already running in production

The solution is not at pilot stage.

It has already been implemented at:

• Saica Paper’s El Burgo de Ebro facility (Spain)

With plans to expand across:

• multiple European production lines

This matters more than lab validation.

👉 Because:

performance in controlled testing ≠ performance in continuous production.

Editorial insight: Why this matters beyond Saica

This development signals a broader shift in the paper industry:

1. Circularity is moving inside the factory

Not just in end-of-life recycling.

👉 Companies are redesigning:

• internal material flows
• production-consumption loops

2. Adhesive systems are becoming the bottleneck

In many “recyclable” solutions:

• the substrate is already recyclable
• the adhesive is the limiting factor

3. Integration beats substitution

Instead of replacing materials externally:

Saica is:

redesigning the system internally

This is a different strategy:

• higher control
• better consistency
• scalable across operations

4. Reel packaging is becoming a technical segment

What used to be:

• simple wrapping

Is now:

• performance-driven
• sustainability-linked
• process-integrated

What this means for converters and machinery suppliers

For companies in:

• slitting and rewinding
• reel packaging systems
• adhesive coating

This creates new requirements:

Equipment side

• stable tension control for paper-based tapes
• compatibility with linerless materials
• precise application systems for reel wrapping

Material side

• demand for repulpable adhesive formulations
• increased use of recycled fiber substrates

Business side

• integration between paper mills and converting divisions
• closed-loop material strategies

Final perspective

Saica’s recycled paper tape is not just another sustainable product.

It represents a shift in thinking:

from replacing materials
to redesigning the entire material cycle

And in the long term, this approach is more difficult to replicate—
but far more powerful.

Because in industrial systems:

the companies that control the loop
will control the margin.

Last Updated on 30/03/2026 by Jota Machinery