Our approach to manufacturing
How we make our products matters. Together with our parent company CCL Industries, we track emissions, energy use, and materials every year to measure our progress. Our science-based targets help keep us moving in the right direction.
Read the CCL Industries Sustainability Report for more information.
CCL sustainability progress
Waste
- Diverted 90% of manufacturing by-products from landfills globally.
- Reach net-zero waste to landfill from manufacturing in North America and Europe by 2030.
Emissions
- By 2030: Cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2022 base year.
- By 2050: Reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions* by 90% from 2022 base year.
How Avery manufactures responsibly
At Avery, our sustainability commitment starts on our manufacturing floor. Here’s what we’re doing to make a difference:
- Scrap reuse: We recycle leftover binder film into resin and use it to make parts like marker caps and plugs.
- Better inks: Avery retail products are printed using water-based or UV inks, which are safer alternatives to solvent-based inks. Our UV LED lamps consume less energy and eliminate the need for hazardous materials like mercury. Additionally, our custom printing service uses inks free from harmful heavy metals and that meet strict safety standards.
- Emissions-free forklifts: Our production floors run on electric forklifts for a cleaner, safer environment.
- Energy-efficient lighting: We replaced conventional lighting on our production floor with energy-efficient LED systems.
Recognized for our progress
In 2026, CCL Industries earned a Silver Medal from EcoVadis. The award recognizes strong sustainability practices and commitment to transparency across operations and supply chain.
Sustainability in our products
Paper sourced responsibly
We’re proud that 98%** of our paper labels and 95%** of our paper dividers, cards, and tags come from responsibly managed sources. Our goal is to reach 100% responsibly sourced paper across all products (FSC®-C007276).
Curbside recyclable
Can Avery labels be recycled? Some Avery labels can be recycled, depending on the label material, adhesive, and the surface they're applied to. However, the liner sheets the labels come on are not recyclable. Learn more about recycling Avery labels.
That said, we offer a selection of label materials with adhesives designed for recycling. Our paper labels made with recycling-compatible adhesives don't interfere with the paper recycling process. So when the labels are stuck to recyclable paper, the whole item can go straight into your recycling bin after use.
Some of our custom printed roll labels made from film also use adhesives that help with recycling. This type of adhesive is designed to peel away easily from HDPE and PET bottles during the recycling process.
Of course, our paper cards, tags, and dividers can also be recycled in your curbside bin. For paper dividers, simply remove the plastic tabs and reinforced strips before recycling the paper material.
Processed without chlorine
Paper is often bleached with chlorine to get a bright white color and improve printing quality. With Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) paper, no chlorine is added during manufacturing. Instead, alternatives like oxygen, ozone, or hydrogen peroxide are used. PCF paper uses recycled content that may have been bleached with chlorine in the past, but it is never re-bleached with chlorine compounds. This process significantly reduces harmful substances released into the environment.
Our eco-friendly collection—including matte white labels, name badges, dividers, and kraft brown labels and cardstock—is made with paper processed without chlorine.
Sustainable materials
Different label materials support sustainability in different ways. Recycled matte white paper, kraft brown paper, and dissolvable materials all help reduce waste. Dissolvable materials also make containers easier to reuse or recycle by helping labels wash away cleanly. Hemp provides a renewable alternative to traditional paper materials.
We offer these materials so you can make more sustainable choices without compromising performance.
Explore eco-friendly products
Whether you're shipping products, organizing your office, or creating custom packaging, explore Avery products with sustainability features built in.
Dividers
- Made with 100% recycled paper that's responsibly sourced and processed chlorine free
Put sustainable ideas into practice
Articles, ideas, and guides to help you choose materials, reduce waste, and create more sustainable packaging for your business.
*Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel and energy-related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, downstream transportation and distribution, processing of sold products, use of sold products, and end-of-life treatment of sold products
**Recyclability and sustainably sourced claims are based on our company’s internal assessments and methodologies, have not been independently verified or third-party certified, and may vary depending on local recycling capabilities, sourcing practices, and product type.
***Flat rate shipping offer applies to economy shipping only. Free economy shipping offer applies to orders with a merchandise total of $50.00 or greater (after discounts, before shipping and tax). If another shipping method is selected, charges may apply. Offer applies only to Avery WePrint orders shipped to the United States and Puerto Rico. Offers subject to change.
