Abstract: An adhesive label is described comprising a backing material, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer attached to the backing material and either a release liner attached to the adhesive layer or a release coating on the other side of the backing material. The backing material is made of paper or home compostable and biodegradable polymer film, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is made from an aqueous polyurethane dispersion pressure-sensitive adhesive. At least 60% by weight of the polyurethane is composed of diisocyanates, polyesterdiols, and at least one bifunctional carboxylic acid selected from di hydroxy carboxylic acids and diamino carboxylic acids, wherein the polyurethane has no melting point above 20° C. or wherein the polyurethane has a melting point above 20° C. with an enthalpy of fusion lower than 10 J/g, and wherein a film of the polyurethane adhesive preferably decomposes at home compost conditions to more than 90% by weight into CO2 and water within 360 days.

Abstract: A method is described for adhesively bonding labels to a substrate, in which a radiation-crosslinkable pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to the label or to the substrate, label and substrate are brought together and bonded to one another, the pressure-sensitive adhesive, prior to bonding, is crosslinked by irradiation, with UV light, for example, with a radiation dose of 6 to 18 mJ/cm2, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive, prior to crosslinking, has a glass transition temperature of less than or equal to ?40° C. The labels can be washed off with basic, aqueous wash liquid.

Abstract: A double-sidedly coated backing comprising on one side (referred to below as face) an outer layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and on the other side (referred to below as reverse) an outer layer of an apolar release coating forming a contact angle of greater than 85° with water at 20° C.

Abstract: The use of a composition of low or no tack at 20° C. as an adhesive that can be adhered to itself (referred to below for short as an autoadhesive).