Sustainability at Avery Europe
At Avery, we see sustainability as making practical improvements where they matter most.
We are working to reduce our environmental impact through responsible product materials and design, packaging reduction and recyclability, more efficient manufacturing and logistics, while supporting safe, inclusive and empowering workplaces.
Our aim is to keep improving how we source, make, pack and deliver our products, and to help customers and consumers make more informed choices along the way.
Our Sustainability Approach
We see sustainability as an ongoing process, and not just a single promise. That means focusing on practical action, being clear about the choices we make, and supporting our claims with recognised standards and evidence where relevant.
Across the Avery core business in Europe, our sustainability priorities are grouped under three (3) areas:
We are designing smarter products and systems that reduce our environmental impact across the value chain — from materials, packaging and waste to energy use and freight.
We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and empowering workplace that supports our employees’ wellbeing and development.
We operate with integrity, with a focus on ethical conduct, transparent reporting and responsible sourcing.
Enviromental
Reducing impact across our value chain
We are working to reduce environmental impact across the way we source, make, pack and deliver our products. Our environmental approach focuses on Climate Action, Circularity and Product Stewardship, with practical action across operations, packaging, product design and material choices.
1. Climate Action
We are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and wider value chain. This includes improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable electricity by up to 100% in key locations - such as our manufacturing sites in Raunds (UK) and Oberlaindern (Germany), where we also generate on site solar power - improving logistics, and supporting local or regional manufacturing where it helps reduce transport distances and improve operational efficiency.
As part of CCL Industries, Inc. our parent company, we contribute to group-wide climate targets that have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) -
• 50% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, from a 2022 base year.
• 90% reduction in absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, from a 2022 base year.
The Science Based Targets initiative is a collaborative effort that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement. It provides a clear framework and validation process to ensure corporate climate targets are credible, measurable, and aligned with limiting global warming.
Our commitment in action:
- We have been carrying out a software-based greenhouse gas balance for the European units in Dardilly (France), Pomezia (Italy), Raunds (UK) and Oberlaindern (Germany) every year since 2019.
- We continue to improve energy efficiency across Avery locations through practical upgrades, such installing LED lighting at our production sites in the UK, Italy and Germany, alongside continuous process improvements.
- We produce over 90% of our products in Europe, to help reduce transport distances and improve supply chain efficiency.
- We use 100% renewable electricity across our European production sites. At our Oberlaindern plant in Germany, we also installed on-site solar panels in August 2024, which generated nearly a quarter of the site's electricity needs in 2025. Together, these initiatives reduced Scope 2 emissions across Avery Europe by 99.98% in 2025.
- We optimise logistics and freight flows to help reduce transport-related emissions.
2. Circularity
We are working to reduce waste and improve circular practices across our operations and packaging. This includes cutting unnecessary plastic, increasing the use of recycled and recyclable materials, improving waste handling, and making it easier for customers to dispose of packaging correctly.
Across Avery Europe, we achieved 100% landfill diversion. This means waste from our operations is recycled, composted or used to recover energy rather than sent to landfill. We record and manage this operational data software-based, the same platform we use for our greenhouse gas accounting.
As part of this approach, we support the wider CCL Industries’ commitment to eliminate landfill waste from manufacturing by 2030 and we contribute to circular economy initiatives such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, a shared vision to eliminate plastic waste at the source by promoting reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging, increasing recycled content and reducing unnecessary plastic.
See CCL's signatory profile
Our commitment in action:
- We use recycled and recyclable cardboard for product, outer and transport packaging, for example on XX% of A4 Avery label packaging.
- Where appropriate, we reduce plastic in outer packaging and move toward plastic-free, recyclable or recycled packaging alternatives, while keeping labels protected from heat and humidity. This includes removing protective film from selected ranges or replacing plastic with more responsible alternatives. For instance, our range of Home & Family labels have used cardboard instead of plastic packaging since 2025.
- We are constantly working on providing clearer disposal instructions and waste icons on pack to help customers sort packaging, including liner materials, correctly after use. Please also check your local collection rules.
- We improve waste handling through actions such as recycling cardboard waste and reusing materials in shipping processes where possible. For example, we use fill material made from 100% recycled cardboard in shipping outers, and at our UK manufacturing site, we operate a baling machine that compresses cardboard waste into compact bales for more efficient recycling.
3. Product Stewardship
We are working to improve our products and packaging through more responsible material choices, better design and practical innovation. This means researching more sustainable materials, developing packaging with less plastic and more recycled or recyclable content, reducing freight-related emissions where possible, and improving products without compromising on quality or performance. We also want to make more sustainable choices easier for customers by offering lower-impact alternatives where possible, including selected products priced the same as, or close to, conventional options.
Our commitment in action:
- XX% of our paper label products are made with FSC-certified paper from responsibly managed forests (see product list / table).
- In selected markets and product ranges, we offer recycled paper labels and other recycled-material options, including products such as cards and lanyards where applicable. Find products with recycled materials.
- We are working towards more detailed sustainability information on pack over time, using digital tools such as QR codes, to give customers easy access to material and disposal information.
- We use aqueous adhesives in relevant applications.
Social
Supporting people, safety and inclusion
We are committed to creating responsible workplaces that support safety, wellbeing, inclusion and development. Across Avery Europe, our social approach focuses on three areas: Health & Safety, Equity & Inclusion, and Employee Growth & Culture. Together, these reflect how we support people in their day-to-day working lives and over the longer-term.
4. Health & Safety
Health and Safety is a universal priority across Avery Europe. We work to provide safe, healthy and secure working conditions across our sites, with the aim of achieving a 0% recordable injury rate. This includes practical action to make health and safety part of everyday working life, supported by training, awareness and site standards.
Our commitment in action:
- Our production plants report very low to zero recordable injury rates.
- We provide Health and Safety training for operators, alongside broader H&S training.
- We run health and safety awareness and promotion programmes across our sites.
- We support safe and accessible working environments, including accessible where applicable.
5. Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating fair and inclusive workplaces where people are treated with respect and have equal opportunities to grow and succeed. This includes supporting gender equality, maintaining inclusive practices across our markets, and making sure anti-discrimination standards across the organisation.
Our commitment in action:
- To date, Avery Europe has a 50:50 male-female split across the organisation, and we continue to monitor this balance over time.
- We apply anti-discrimination policies across all sites to support fair and respectful workplaces. In some markets, this is reinforced through formal equality and inclusion policies and certifications, such as the UNI/PdR 125:2022 in Italy
- We also measure social KPIs, such as gender and age diversity, training hours per person, turnover, and new-hire rates, to track progress over time, identify gaps early, and continuously improve how we attract, develop, and retain a diverse and capable workforce.
6. Employee Growth & Culture
We want to create a workplace where people can learn, develop and build their careers over time, while also supporting their physical, mental and financial wellbeing. That means continuing to invest in people at all levels through training, development, flexible working and practical support that helps employees balance work and personal responsibilities.
Our commitment in action:
- In 2025, employees across Avery Europe completed an average of almost 60 hours of training per person, up 6% on the previous year.
- We provide ongoing training and skill development opportunities across the business, alongside opportunities for professional growth and career development.
- We support development through specialised software systems and competency frameworks that help track performance, behaviours and development priorities.
- We support flexible and hybrid ways of working where practical, alongside measures such as health insurance coverage and parental leave.
In some locations, employees also benefit from locally driven health initiatives that support day-to-day wellbeing. - In some locations, employees also benefit from locally-driven health initiatives that support day-to-day wellbeing.
Governance
Acting with integrity and accountability
We believe sustainability depends on strong governance. That means clear standards, fair business practices, transparent reporting and responsible sourcing. Our governance approach focuses on Ethical Conduct, Transparency and Responsible Supply Chain.
7. Ethical Conduct
We are committed to fair business practices and high ethical standards across all our operations. Our objective is to apply our CCL Global Business Ethics Guide across all units to help embed these standards consistently throughout the business.
Our commitment in action:
- We continue to review and use the CCL Global Business Ethics Guide to set a clear standard for how we work across all business units and in our relationships with customers, suppliers and partners. It covers key areas including fair treatment, respect in the workplace, non-discrimination and minimum wage principles.
- By giving our teams consistent guidance on these expectations, we support responsible decision-making in day-to-day work and help maintain fair and ethical business practices across the organisation.
8. Transparency
We want our sustainability approach to be clear, credible and backed by evidence. In addition to the CCL Industries Sustainability report that comes out every year, for which Avery is already a part of, we would also like to develop a dedicated Avery Europe ESG report over time, while we are maintaining the governance, standards and disclosures needed to support long-term progress. Our approach is supported by recognised certifications, management systems and compliance frameworks, helping customers, partners and other stakeholders understand the basis for our claims.
Our commitment in action
- We use recognised standards, certifications, management systems and compliance frameworks to check, support and strengthen our sustainability claims, including EcoVadis (CCL group-wide assessment certification), CDP (CCL group-wide), FSC, ISO 14001different ISO certifications like ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 9001, REACH and RoHS, depending on the unit market or product and scope. See also the table below
- We build on the CCL Sustainability reporting aligned to GRI, and SASB and IFRS and verified by Apex Companies, LLC to support more consistent and transparent sustainability reporting.
9. Responsible Supply Chain
Responsible Supply Chain
We work with suppliers that meet quality, safety and responsibility standards, and we aim to support regulatory compliance across the markets where we operate. This includes sourcing raw materials from recognised, certified and responsible suppliers, and expecting main suppliers to sign our Supplier Code of Conduct. Our approach is guided by sourcing and governance standards that help customers, partners and resellers do business with confidence.
Our commitment in action:
- We source raw materials from recognised, certified and responsible suppliers that meet our quality and safety standards
- We set clear expectations through the CCL Supplier Code of Conduct, the CCL Global Business Ethics Guide, our commitment to the UN Global Compact, and our anti-slavery and human-trafficking statement.
- We support ethical working standards across the business, including expectations around minimum wages and non-discrimination.
- We strengthen oversight and accountability through internal audits and relevant ISO certifications, including ISO 9001 (UK) and ISO 14001 + ISO 45001 (both Germany).
Certifications, Assessments and Compliance
Sustainability claims need to be supported by clear evidence. Our sustainability information may be supported by product certifications, site management systems, legal compliance processes and group-level assessments. These forms of evidence are not equivalent and apply to different parts of the business.
| Category | Standard/ framework | Evidence type | Applies to | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental | FSC | Product or chain-of-custody certification | Selected certified entities | |
| Environmental | EcoVadis | Voluntary Sustainability assessment | CCL group | Silver rating, assessment year 2026, awarded to CCL INDUSTRIES INC, Group-level disclosure  |
| Environmental | CDP | Voluntary Sustainability assessment | CCL group | 2025 scores of CCL group  |
| Governance | ISO 9001 | Quality management system certification | Certified British entity | Certified for UK site (Raunds) |
| Social | ISO 45001 | Occupational health & safety management system certification | Certified German entity | Certified for German site certificate available |
| Social | UNI/PdR 125:2022 | Equality management certification | Italy | Certificate |
Governance and sourcing documents
- Global Business Ethics Guide
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Anti-slavery and human-trafficking statement
- CCL Sustainability Report and related reporting references
Find Products by Sustainability Attribute
Explore Avery products with specific environmental attributes. Availability and claims vary by country and product range.
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Eco friendly labels perfect for everyday printing needs
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Yes. Selected Avery products contain recycled materials, including recycled paper label options in certain markets. The percentage and component containing recycled material are stated on the relevant product page.
Yes. Selected Avery paper label products are made with FSC-certified paper from responsibly managed forests. Please see product list here <insert link>.
Many Avery packaging formats are designed to be recyclable, and we are continuing to improve packaging across our ranges. Follow the component-level disposal instructions on the packaging and check local collection rules.
Disposal instructions depend on the product, backing material and packaging components.
Where available, follow the instructions printed on the pack. Local collection requirements vary, so customers should also check guidance from their local waste authority.
Yes. Depending on the product and market, this can include recycled paper labels, recycled cardboard packaging and selected recycled-material product ranges.
Actions include energy efficiency improvements, logistics optimisation, renewable electricity in some locations, waste reduction and packaging improvements
We use certifications, management systems and compliance standards where relevant, supported by internal governance and local review.
Avery products are manufactured in different locations across Europe depending on the market and product range. In several markets, local or regional manufacturing helps reduce transport impact.
Current actions include energy-efficiency projects, renewable electricity, logistics optimisation, waste reduction and packaging changes.