Recycling Processes and Labels and Adhesives and Use Therein

Abstract

A method for recycling materials having an affixed label is disclosed. The present invention also includes labels and adhesives that is readily removable from a material during a process for recycling the material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using a water sensitive adhesive, the method comprising:
 affixing a label to a recyclable material using a water sensitive adhesive, wherein the adhesive is configured to release the label from the recyclable material upon breaking the recyclable material into pieces and exposing the pieces to outdoor conditions for sufficient time to result in partial or complete separation of the label from the recyclable material.   
     
     
         2 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the article without the application of heat above ambient temperature and without the application of caustic. 
     
     
         3 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the article without any curling effect and without the application of heat above ambient temperature. 
     
     
         4 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive at a coating weight of less than about 15 g/m 2 , wherein the label is configured to be removed from the article without the application of heat above ambient temperature and without the application of caustic. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the adhesive coating weight is less than about 12 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the adhesive coating weight is less than about 10 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         7 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the bottle in the presence of liquid at less than about 5 percent by weight of the article. 
     
     
         8 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the article in the presence of liquid of less than about 5 percent by weight of the article and with a soaking time of less than about one minute. 
     
     
         9 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the bottle when the article is broken and in the presence of less than about 5 percent by weight of the article and the label is configured to remain affixed to the article during exposure to moisture when the article is unbroken. 
     
     
         10 . An article comprising a label, wherein the label is affixed to the article with an adhesive and wherein the label is configured to be removed from the article without the application of heat above ambient temperature and without the application of caustic, and wherein label does not include layers that exhibit a curl effect upon exposure to sufficient heat.