Print Durability and Recyclability of Label Paper Equipped with Printed RFID Antenna

Abstract

Labels are a crucial component of products, offering informational content and attractive visuals; therefore, the durability of the print is an important quality requirement. On the other hand, in accordance with eco-design, the recyclability of printed labels is vital. In our research, the focus was on the assessment of the durability, recyclability, and deinkability of printed label paper equipped with printed RFID tags. The determined color fastness of electrophotographic prints affected by various environmental factors showed good resistance to dry rubbing and, in most cases, light and moist–heat treatment, confirming the applicability of digital printing on self-adhesive biodegradable paper labels. In the second part of this study, recyclability was assessed, and a comparison between the deinkability of the offset and digital prints and two conductive functional inks was conducted. Good deinkability was observed for the printed RFID antennas on both the offset and electrographic prints, with only a small deterioration in optical properties, especially when nano-silver conductive ink was used. The study highlights the importance of the selection of materials and printing techniques when considering the environmental impact of printed electronics. The results showed that INGEDE 11 is a suitable deinking method for printed RFID antennas on offset and electrographic prints.