Labels are a cornerstone of marketing health and beauty products, which makes finding the best label manufacturer to work with a fundamental task. It’s easy to feel lost among the myriad of label glue and material options available. Knowing your target market and focussing on the specific needs related to your products will help you make this difficult choice. To help you, here are a few things to know when browsing label material specifications.
How to Choose Label Material
Labels can be made of a variety of materials; paper, polyester, and polypropylene are some of the most common. Several factors will drive your choice of a label material: cost, appearance, and durability.
Cost: The price range can vary significantly from one material to another. Take the time to evaluate the cost and your actual needs. For example, if you sell vitamin ginger beer in a glass bottle, you’ll want a label that sticks well to the bottle long enough for the customer to drink it, but you won’t need something that lasts longer than your product.
Appearance: Appearance is key when it comes to labels. The texture of your labels will greatly impact the design. Paper labels are flexible and can come in many different colours and textures. However, they generally aren’t the most resistant option. Some plastic-based labels will be resistant but might not give you the desired effect. As always, it’s a question of balance.
Durability: The material chosen for your label and the glue will define the durability. Durability is important, but extreme durability isn’t necessarily what you need. Think about your product and for how long it would normally be used. A rescue balm might be used for several months, but a sample size of the same product will be used only once, so it doesn’t need the same quality.
You should also consider the application method, as some types of labels can require specific equipment.
Another factor is the sustainability of the labels. Some labels aren’t sustainable, contain contaminating ingredients, and are hard to dispose of. Others are made from organic waste material and will decompose easily. Between these two extremes, there are many options. The balance lies in choosing something that matches your brand identity and budget.
What Type of Labels Stick to Glass?
Many types of labels can stick to glass, including paper, vinyl, Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP), Polyester (PET), and Polypropylene.
Think of the product’s use when making this choice, as a label can stick in normal conditions but start degrading in certain circumstances. Will the product be used in the shower? Will the glass sometimes be heated, as for a candle? Is the product highly acidic, or does it have a high pH? Or is it an oil? These are all questions that will impact your choices. Labels for small glass bottles and larger ones will be affected by the type of glue you choose.
What Is the Best Glue for Labels on Plastic?
Generally speaking, you can use many different types of labels for plastic, as this is an easy surface to work with. But it depends on what the plastic is used for.
There are two main types of adhesives: rubber-based and acrylic-based.
Rubber-based adhesives are cheap and flexible. They are excellent for long-term usage and are often considered to be the best glue for labels on plastic. However, they can develop a yellow tinge if the bottle is exposed often to sunlight.
Acrylic-based adhesives are extremely durable and ideal for challenging environments. They are also resistant to UV light. They’re usually used on glass or metal but can be used on plastic, although generally not as effective as rubber-based adhesives.
Blends of acrylic and rubber adhesives are available. Usually custom-made, they can be quite expensive. However, they offer the possibility for the exact sticking power you need.
Both types of glue can be permanent, removable, repositionable, or resistant to specific temperatures. It will always depend on the specific glue you choose, so be sure to know what you need among these characteristics.
What Type of Labels Are Waterproof?
Depending on your product, you might need waterproof labels, especially if you are selling cosmetics or health products that will live in a bathroom. Consider shipping labels that will resist the rain and the snow, ensuring that your customers receive their orders without problems.
Waterproof product labels are often made of propylene or polyester. Paper labels aren’t ideal, but they can be coated to become waterproof. There are waterproof labels that are extremely resistant and won’t peel off ever. Some options will stick for the original use but can wear off with time, especially for products that aren’t made to be used for a long time.
Using the right glue and material for your beauty and health labels is essential. Nobody wants a label that will peel off after one use, or worse before it even reaches your customer. To ensure you make the right choices, ask the experts! At Multi-Action, we can help you find the best material and glue for your labels, whether you print them in-house or directly with us.
