Recycling of Shrink Sleeves Labels: A Positive Future Outlook

Shrink sleeves offer a lot of benefits to brand owners such as label landscape for product promotion, placement of information and scope for creation of decorative packaging. The shortcoming for shrink sleeve labels is, however, recycling. The issue of sustainability and recycling that still continues to muddle the label and packaging industry. This kind of label mandates removal before recycling the pet bottles.

Findings on Sleeve Label Material Recyclers, nonetheless, have witnessed progress on shrink sleeves. They are working hard to find feasible solutions to difficulties encountered in recycling containers that use shrink sleeve labels. Things are getting much better for the future recyclability of shrink labels. According to the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), a trade group, new label technologies are commercially available from many suppliers.

The challenge that exists now is to drive these technologies into actual commercial use. APR is hopeful about the future of shrink sleeves’ recycling. More and more companies today are creating sleeve label film that is easily separable from the PET bottle at the time of recycling. Historically, sleeve label material has been made from glycol-modified PET or PVC. Both PET and PVC plastics sink in water and mix with PET flake. The development of new polyolefin label by a few of the label manufacturers, however, offers an option for label pieces to float in a separation tank.

Recommendations of the APR

Companies using shrink labels need to follow the recommendations put forth by the APR. It recommends companies to use sleeve labels that remain afloat in water and isolate them from PET flakes in a sink or float material separation step. They also recommend using printed label inks that do not stain PET flakes while washing or rinsing during the recycling process. It is necessary for companies to use an APR guidance document to examine the effect of a label on PET bottle recycling. Moreover, they need to utilize shrink sleeves labels that leave minimum 20 percent of PET bottle surface area open.

Research of the APR in 2013 showed recyclers spending about two to four cents per pound of reprocessed plastic to remove shrink sleeves. The use of these labels registered seven to nine times growth from 2007 to 2013.

The Road Ahead

Brand owners of consumer goods are mindful of sustainability and recycling issues when it comes to shrink labels. They are all set to adopt easily recyclable shrink-sleeve label film. Renowned companies such as Coca Cola shifted to recyclable shrink sleeve material for its holiday orb bottle. The big challenge, however, is the pace at which the companies can push the use of recyclable shrink sleeves label.

Cold Foil Printing Technology: Enhancing Elegance of Labeling and Packaging

Labels and packages have surfaced as an important marketing tool to reposition and rebrand numerous products. One of the label print and packaging ways that enhance the aesthetic appeal of the final product is cold foil label printing. The process, also known as cold foil stamping, provides a smoother metallic surface and is more suitable for high-end printing processes. The printing process has an efficiency to enhance overall business ROI and reposition the product in a highly competitive market with a new flair. The brief read discusses how label printing technology works and its advantageous for different products. Let’s start.

Cold Foil Label Printing Process

During cold foil label printing process, an image is printed by using a standard printing plate along with the UV-curable cold foil adhesive. UV dryers are used to activate the adhesive. An image is created using the extracted foil affixed to the printed adhesive. The foil spools are further nipped on a surface to form an image, and make the surface bright and attractive.

Advantages of Cold Foil Printing Process

Affordable

Unlike the hot foil label printing, the cold foil label printing technology does not need expensive stamping tools. The process is print receptive, uses affordable printing plates, and is a comparatively faster process as compared to the hot foil process. The absence of dyes reduces the cost and tooling time.

Fast

Stamping tools may need up to two weeks to give results, whereas, with printing plates, it takes less time to form labels. Cold foil printing technology, therefore, has a high delivery rate as compared to the traditional printing process.

High Coverage

The coverage area differs for both hot and cold foil stamping process. Hot foil stamping is a cost-effective process if the foil image is positioned in a small area. Cold foils are ideal for situations when you need moderate or full coverage.

Enhances Visual Representation

As compared to hot foils, cold foil label printing technology can be used for designing more attractive labels. If you want a combination of vibrant colors and attractiveness in the product labels, cold foil printing is an effective way to use different shades and distinguished colors at one place.

Conclusion

Cold foil printing technology has helped label manufacturers meet market expectations and reposition numerous products in the highly competitive market. Cold foil printing is apt to enhance shades, reduce packaging cost and enhance visual representation of products. If you are looking for a cold printing service provider, make sure that they have an excellent market experience and a good track record to manufacture labels and packages.