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SATO Kitakami Operations to Recycle 19 Tons of Label Liner Waste Annually

Full-scale launch of recycling scheme at Japan factory

SATO Corporation, a global leader in auto-identification and labelling solutions, has developed and validated a recycling program for silicone-coated release liners, a byproduct of label manufacturing. Following successful trials, the company launched this initiative in January 2025 at its Kitakami Operations facility in Iwate, Japan. The program will recycle approximately 19 tons¹ of release liners annually, transforming what was previously considered waste into a valuable resource and reducing CO² emissions.

Release liner recycling process

1. Liner waste produced at SATO Kitakami factory
2. Shredding and pressing at recycler
3. Recovered paper dissolved at paper mill
4. Resale by paper processor

The Kitakami factory, which produces adhesive labels including RFID for SATO's global customer base, generates roughly 1.56 tons of release liner waste each month during label production. These release liners—the paper backing that protects adhesive labels—have traditionally been difficult to recycle due to their silicone resin coating, leading to their disposal as waste.

Recognising its responsibility as a label manufacturer, SATO partnered with several companies to develop a viable recycling solution. This initiative reflects SATO's commitment to sustainability and resource conservation, working toward a circular economy that maximises resource efficiency while minimising waste.

SATO is committed to expanding its sustainability efforts by increasing recycling rates and exploring new ways to recycle various types of waste.

1. SATO internal estimate

About SATO

SATO (TOKYO:6287) designs and manufactures hardware, labels and tags and develops software to integrate with third party offerings as automatic identification solutions. These solutions streamline workflows, enabling data capture and visualization for a connected world of productivity, safety, reassurance and sustainability. By giving things a digital identity, SATO helps businesses in retail, manufacturing, food, health care and transport & logistics run smoothly. Founded in 1940, SATO has a presence in 26 countries with a workforce of over 5,700. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, it reported revenues of 143,446 million yen ($992 million*).

More information about SATO can be found at www.sato-global.com

*Based on an average exchange rate of 1 USD = 144.58 JPY