Acting today and innovating for a more sustainable world
Reducing dependence on non-renewable resources
Faced with the climate emergency, Novacel is committed to reducing reliance on non‑renewable resources through continuous innovation, and the use of recycled materials.
Our more energy‑efficient solutions help clients accelerate their transition toward a circular economy aligned with the highest sustainability standards.
Eco-Conceived Process and Protective Films: OXYGEN
Novacel has been the first manufacturer to launch a range of eco-designed protective and process films.
The Oxygen range helps limit the environmental impact of our products by either reducing the amount of material used or replacing fossil-based raw materials with more sustainable alternatives.
Four complementary technologies can reduce the carbon footprint associated with the use of film by 11% to 80%*.
VEGETAL+
These bio-based films are made from over 80% renewable raw materials, with no deforestation or food competition, enabling
to reduce the carbon footprint by 80%*.
VEGETAL
This range is produced thanks the Mass Balance approach. For each square meter of film, 30% of bio-sourced Low Density Polyethylene or Polypropylene is mixed into our supplier’s production. Vegetal films enable to reduce ~30% CO2 emissions* compared to a standard film and are compliant with the ISCC PLUS certification.
LEAN
These films have the same thickness as traditional ones with a significant reduction of fossil resources. By reducing the quantity
of ~20% LDPE, the carbon footprint of the product is reduced by 14%*. The lighter rolls reduce transportation weight & improve health and safety workers condition. The Lean technology is patented.
RECYCLED
These films are made from over 25% of Post Consumer Recycled LDPE content, enabling to reduce the film’s carbon footprint by 11%*. This range traceability is certified by IPPR, granting the eligibility to lower plastic tax rates in countries such as Spain.
*Estimation based on the certified LCIs (Life Cycle Inventories) of similar standard products
Natural Rubber
From 2026, the European Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) requests that all natural rubber (among other listed vegetal resources) imported in the European Union must be documented to prove the absence of connexion with deforestation activities.
Novacel is sourcing its natural rubber only from compliant suppliers.
In parallel, we continuously review our sourcing options of natural rubber to mitigate our exposure to the consequences of climate change on local plantations.
Preserving ecosystems and combating pollution
We work to reduce our impact on natural ecosystems by limiting chemical, and residual pollution throughout the
product lifecycle. Through environmental vigilance and eco‑design, we strive to preserve fragile ecosystems and
biodiversity
VOC Abatement
To reduce the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) generated by our films coating, Novacel resorts to a Solvent Recovery Unit (SRU).
First, a SRU captures the VOC from the exhaust air generated during the drying process, thanks to an active charcoal filter. In this filter, VOCs condensates and returns to their original state of liquid solvent. This recovered solvent is finally used once again in our mixing department, leading to a close loop and avoiding VOC emissions.
When a specific solvent is only used in small quantities, the SRU technology is not relevant. In this case, Novacel resorts to a Thermal Oxidizer which is an incinerator converting the VOCs in significantly less hazardous chemicals like CO2.
Solvent Recovery Unit (SRU) at Sessa Arunca - Italy
85% of our funneled VOC emission in France are reduced in the site level through the use of RTO.
Water Efficiency
The SRU uses steam that becomes hot water during the process.
Instead of being cooled and discharged, part of this hot water is reconverted into steam and reused in the SRU, reducing the unit’s overall steam demand and lowering the plant’s water consumption.
Between 2020 and 2024, thanks to a steam recovery unit, water consumption in our plant in Sessa was reduced by 41% for each m² produced.
Partnerships for end-of-life of flexible plastics & their circularity
Novacel’s process and protective films are recyclable*, and we are recycling offcuts generated in our facilities. Still, flexible plastics are challenging materials for the recycling industry, especially when coated with adhesives.
*Recyclable by the forms of recycling as defined by ISO 472:2013 Plastics
At the same time, technical solutions exist and actors are collaborating to foster the development of full recycling chains for these plastics. Novacel is proud to actively contribute to several impactful initiatives through two dynamic and respected alliances, illustrating our commitment #2, preserving ecosystems and combating pollution.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is a non-profit whose purpose is to end plastic waste entering the environmentand to create circular systems that keep materials and products in use for as long as possible. It leverages the technical and operational experience of its members, collaborates with development finance institutions to raise the capital needed to have impact at scale, and partners with national and local governments. More than 1 billion USD have been collected or catalyzed with financial institutions to drive system change, with a stronger focus in geographies like India, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Novacel is actively participating in their large program on flexible plastics, which covers Europe and North America. Moreover, Novacel is participating in the Leadership Board of the organization.
Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) aims to bring together users and manufacturers of plastic goods with efficient recycling companies to implement economically viable solutions. As a member of the alliance, we aim to implement pilot recycling loops for our process films after use, starting in Western Europe. Multiple difficulties need to be overcome: sorting, collection, logistics, pricing, offtakers’ needs, etc.
Joining the CPA is, for us, a great opportunity to find partners committed to recycling and to help create a more circular model that users of adhesive films can leverage.
Acting for the climate with intergenerational responsibility
We reduce our carbon footprint by controlling emissions, improving energy efficiency, and adopting low‑carbon technologies, helping to mitigate climate impacts for future generations.
Energy Efficiency Plan
New steam-recovery and heat-recovery systems were installed in France and Italy. These upgrades significantly reduce natural-gas demand by reusing waste heat and increasing VOC concentration, cutting the energy required for steam generation and VOC incineration. Solar PV panels were installed in Italy. In 2025, the electricity generated by our PV panels accounted for 3.3% of the Italian plant’s consumption.
Additional actions implemented include the replacement of pumps and of their automation, the replacement of a chiller generating chilled water, and the insulation of thermal networks.
Solvent Recovery Unit (SRU) at Sessa Arunca - Italy
Between 2022 and 2024, Novacel has deployed an investment plan which has resulted in a reduction of 6% and 13% of the natural gas and electricity consumptions respectively, at our European facilities in Déville and Sessa.
Measuring our Product Carbon Footprint
Novacel has contributed to the development of a sectorial methodology to assess and certify product carbon footprint, through the European Adhesive Tape Association (AFERA). This collaboration led to the creation of “Tacktool”, a tool designed for tape and films manufacturers.
Novacel now uses Tacktool to calculate the carbon footprint of its products. The assessment relies on high-quality, primary data, such as energy consumption on production lines, raw material formulations, and solvent recovery volumes. We use location-based emission factors for energy mix.
This approach allows us to provide our customers with reliable data on the environmental impact of our solutions, demonstrates the lower carbon intensity of Novacel’s solutions within our sector, and highlights the improved performance of our OXYGEN range versus traditional films.
Low-Carbon Design
The OXYGEN range helps limit the environmental impact of our products.
Novacel’s Trap Print technology lowers chemical use and avoids several energyintensive steps by placing the ink between the backing and the adhesive, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.
In 2025, Novacel launched Versatis, a new adhesive film family that eliminates energy-intensive manufacturing stages and, thanks to its versatility, helps consolidate multiple product codes, reducing waste and the risk of obsolete stocks.
Since 2024, our technical data sheets have included a carbon footprint for the manufacturing steps of 90% of our sales of process and protective films.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
Novacel has developed a methodology to calculate its carbon footprint across scopes 1, 2, and 3.
Each purchase order and energy flow is accounted for to ensure comprehensive, reliable data, and consistency with the life cycle inventories of our products was verified. Since the purchasing (scope 3) contribution accounts for more than 70% of our footprint, these emissions are carefully assessed across our three industrial plants in France, Italy, and the United States.
A computation tool developed by our teams provides quick results and enables us to update all our computations since 2022, when emission factors are revised, a key feature to understand the origins of the fluctuations.
We keep refining our model, for instance, for upstream and downstream freight emissions, which currently rely on simulations rather than actual data from logistics operators.
