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| Product Name | Labels |
| Material | Paper (Kraft, Art, Thermal), Synthetic, PET, PP, Vinyl, Holographic, Transparent, Destructible |
| Adhesive | Permanent, Removable, Repositionable, Freezer grade, High temp, Food grade, Water resistant |
| Label Style | Roll, Sheet, Die-cut, Kiss-cut, Linerless, Booklet, Wrap-around, Tamper evident, Security void |
| Printing | Flexo, Gravure, Offset, Digital, Thermal transfer, Hot foil, Embossing, CMYK, Pantone, Variable data |
| Shape / Finish | Rectangle, Circle, Oval, Custom die-cut, Matte/Gloss, Soft touch, Holographic, Metallic, Fluorescent |
| Size | Width 10-300mm, Length 10-1000mm, Custom die-cut, Roll 1"/3" core, Sheets A4/Letter |
| Applications | Food, Beverage, Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical, Industrial, Retail, Logistics, Wine, Coffee, Medical |
| Certification | FDA food contact, EU 10/2011, BPA free, ISO 9001, BRC, REACH, FSC certified, Compostable |
Labels: An Underrated Brand Touchpoint
Labels may seem small, but they are the part of a product closest to the consumer. On bottles, bags, and boxes, the first information you see is often gleaned from the label.
What exactly is a label?
Simply put, a label is an information carrier affixed to the surface of packaging. It displays the logo, product name, ingredient list, barcode, and expiration date. But it's more than just information—the feel of the material, the precision of the printing, and the fit all contribute to conveying the brand's quality.
By Application Scenarios
Daily Chemical Labels: Shampoo, skincare products, detergents; must be resistant to pressure, moisture, and oil.
Food and Beverage Labels: Direct or indirect contact; must meet food safety requirements.
Logistics Labels: Express delivery slips, warehouse barcodes; must be wear-resistant and firmly adhered.
Industrial Labels: Chemical drums, oil bottles; must be corrosion-resistant and resistant to extreme temperatures.
By Material
Paper Labels: Matte or glossy; suitable for manual labeling; low cost, natural texture.
Film Labels: PP, PE, PET materials; waterproof and oil-proof; suitable for automatic labeling lines.
Thermal Labels: No ribbon required; directly printed; widely used in logistics and express delivery.
Specialty Materials: Gold and silver cards, transparent films, removable adhesives, water-soluble adhesives.
By Adhesion
Permanent Adhesive: Once applied, it is not intended to be removed; most commonly used in daily chemical and food products.
(Optional) Removable Adhesive: Leaves no residue after peeling, suitable for promotional labels and turnover box labels.
Freezing-Grade Adhesive: Remains adhesive even at -18 degrees Celsius or lower.
High-Temperature Adhesive: Can withstand ovens, microwaves, and steamers.
By Printing Process:
Offset Printing: Suitable for paper labels, excellent detail reproduction.
Flexographic Printing: Suitable for large-volume orders, high efficiency and low cost.
Gravure Printing: Suitable for film labels, high color saturation.
Digital Printing: Low minimum order quantity, variable data, suitable for customization.
By Form:
Self-Adhesive Labels: The most common, adhesive on the back, peel and stick.
Shrink Sleeve Labels: Slip onto the bottle and shrink upon heating, 360-degree display.
In-Mold Labels: Molded integral with the bottle, cannot be peeled off.
Wet Glue Labels: Apply glue and stick, commonly found on beer bottles.
What role do labels play in packaging?
First, clearly identify the brand. With so many products on the shelf, consumers scan them in seconds. The brand name and product name on the label must be easily visible; font size, position, and color contrast are all important.
Second, include everything that needs to be said. Ingredients, nutritional information, shelf life, storage conditions, and batch number—these are regulatory requirements; a product cannot be sold without any of them. The label must have enough space for this information, and it must be clearly printed and scannable.
Third, convey a sense of quality. Even with the same mineral water bottle, a regular label and a gold-embossed label feel different in your hand. Matte labels feel warm, glossy labels are vibrant, and transparent labels directly show the bottle—the material itself speaks volumes.
Fourth, withstand the test of the environment. If a beverage bottle is left in the refrigerator for a few days, the label will wrinkle and bubble, damaging the consumer's impression. If a shampoo bottle is left in the bathroom, the label will be waterlogged and peel, giving the impression that the brand is unreliable. Labels should maintain their appearance in their intended environment.
Some common label formats
Self-adhesive labels: The most common, supplied in rolls, automatically applied using labeling machines. Paper labels are suitable for dry environments, while film labels are suitable for humid, frozen, and oily environments. Customizable shapes: round, oval, and irregular shapes can all be die-cut.
Shrink Sleeve Labels: These are heat-shrinkable labels that completely cover the bottle, including the top and bottom. 360-degree printing, no front or back restrictions, ideal for promotional packs and limited-edition holiday products. Excellent tamper-evident properties; tamper-evident labels are easily recognizable.
In-Mold Labels: These integrate seamlessly with the bottle during injection or blow molding, feeling smooth like the bottle itself and impossible to peel off. High-quality feel, moisture-proof and wear-resistant, suitable for high-end daily chemicals and cosmetics.
Thermal Labels: No ribbon required; printed directly by a thermal printer, convenient and fast. Used for courier waybills, supermarket scale labels, and warehouse shelf labels. The ink fades when exposed to heat and light, making them unsuitable for long-term storage.
Removable Labels: Leaves no residue after removal, suitable for promotional information, event stickers, and turnover box labels. The adhesive formula is important; it must adhere firmly and be removed cleanly.
Key Considerations When Choosing Labels
What product will it be applied to? Dry or wet goods? Room temperature or frozen? Direct or indirect contact? Bottle material: glass, plastic, or metal?
How to label? Manual or automatic? What is the speed of the automatic labeling line? What is the required roll diameter?
What environment will it be used in? Will it be submerged in water? Frozen? Exposed to sunlight? Microwaveable?
What effect do you want? Transparent or white? Matte or glossy? Hot stamping or regular? In-mold or regular self-adhesive?
What is the production volume? A few thousand sheets can be digitally printed; hundreds of thousands are suitable for flexographic or gravure printing to reduce costs.
If you are looking for a label supplier
We have produced many labels for food and beverages, daily chemical and personal care products, and logistics and warehousing. You can send samples to see the material and feel, or discuss which adhesive, film, and printing process is suitable for your product.
