The Engineering Behind Labels That Survive Cold, Damp Environments

For brands in the food, beverage, and craft spirits sectors, a product’s label is more than just branding, it is a critical piece of functional packaging. It must convey regulatory data, look pristine on a retail shelf, and maintain its integrity from the filling line to the consumer’s hand.

However, when your supply chain involves cold storage, blast freezing, or high-humidity environments, a standard label simply won’t suffice. Moisture and low temperatures are the natural enemies of pressure-sensitive adhesives and face stocks.

At Star Label Products, we have spent decades partnering with food and beverage brands to solve these exact environmental challenges. Here is a look at the sophisticated material science and application strategies required to ensure your custom labels thrive in cold, damp conditions.

The Core Challenge: Condensation and Thermal Contraction

When a label fails in a cold environment, it usually boils down to two physical culprits: moisture barriers and temperature drops.

• The Moisture Problem: If a container is filled with a cold liquid in a warm room, it immediately creates surface condensation (sweat). Standard adhesives cannot bond to a layer of water; they merely float on top of it, leading to immediate flagging, curling, or total delamination.
• The Temperature Problem: As temperatures drop, adhesives lose their tack and become brittle. If the adhesive freezes before it has fully cured to the container’s surface, the bond will fail. Furthermore, different materials contract at different rates; a plastic container may shrink slightly in a blast freezer, causing a rigid paper label to wrinkle or pucker.

Anatomy of a Cold-Resistant Label

Solving this requires a precise, engineered combination of three components: the face stock, the adhesive, and the liner.

1. Advanced Adhesives: Service vs. Application Temperature

When specifying a label, a sophisticated buyer must look at two distinct temperature metrics:

• Application Temperature: The temperature of the environment and the container at the exact moment the label is applied.
• Service Temperature Range: The temperature spectrum the label can withstand after it has fully bonded to the container (usually requiring 24 to 48 hours to cure).

For cold, damp environments, standard adhesives are insufficient. We utilize specialized all-temperature or cold-temperature adhesives. These formulas are engineered with high initial tack to cut through micro-moisture layers and remain flexible even at sub-zero temperatures (down to -65°F / -54°C for cryogenic or blast-freeze applications).

2. High-Performance Face Stocks

The material that gets printed on must withstand ambient moisture without degrading.

• Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP): The gold standard for cold and wet environments. BOPP films (available in clear, white, or metallized base colors) are completely impervious to water, resist tearing, and flex naturally with plastic containers as they expand and contract.
• Coated and Wet-Strength Papers: For brands desiring a premium, organic, or matte aesthetic (common in wine and craft beer), standard paper will turn mushy or gray when wet. We utilize wet-strength paper stocks engineered with specialized resins to retain structural integrity and opacity even when submerged in an ice bucket.

3. Finishes That Protect: Varnishes and Laminates

To protect the printed inks from moisture, friction, and scuffing during refrigerated transport, a protective top layer is vital. A heavy-duty PET or BOPP lamination provides a physical barrier against water. Alternatively, a UV-cured liquid varnish can be precisely applied to protect the graphics if preferred over a laminate.

Operational Best Practices for Flawless Application

Even the most advanced material science will fail if the application environment isn’t optimized. To ensure maximum adhesion, your production line should account for the following variables:

Partnering with an Experienced Label Printer 

Specifying labels for harsh environments is not a matter of trial and error—it’s a matter of chemistry and engineering. Subtle differences in container materials (e.g., HDPE vs. PET vs. glass vs. aluminum) heavily dictate how an adhesive will perform in the cold.

At Star Label Products, our consultative approach ensures your labels are custom-built for your specific operational parameters. We evaluate your application temperatures, filling processes, and storage conditions to deliver a label that performs flawlessly and protects your brand’s image.

Ready to optimize your packaging for the cold chain? Contact the engineering team at Star Label Products today to request material samples and discuss your next project.

Hinge vs. Wrap-Around: The Definitive Guide to Choosing Your Extended Content Label

When detailed instructions, legal disclosures, or multilingual text are required on your product, Extended Content Labels (ECLs) are the essential solution. These increase your label’s real estate by 50-100%, giving you the necessary space without sacrificing primary branding.

But the choice between the two main peel and reseal formats, the hinge label and the wrap-around label is critical. Selecting the wrong one can lead to user frustration, label failure, or inefficient use of space.

Here’s a technical comparison to help you choose the right ECL for your product, content, and user experience goals.

1. Peel and Reseal Hinge Labels: Security and Simplicity

The hinge label is defined by its fixed point of attachment. One edge of both layers remains permanently adhered to the container, while the opposing top edge can be peeled open like a door or flap.

Core Mechanics and Applications

• Attachment: One edge is a fixed hinge. The top layer simply folds back onto the base layer when resealed.
• Printable Area: Provides a moderate amount of space, typically limited to two or three internal panels (top side of the base layer, underside of the top layer, & the top side of the top layer).
• Best Use Cases:
  • Small, Flat Surfaces: Vials, tubes, blister packs, or small cosmetic jars where space is at a premium.
  • Repeat Reference: Dosage instructions for pharmaceuticals or multi-step directions for home kits.

Key Advantages for User Experience (UX)

• Maximum Security: Because the label is fixed, the instructional content can never be fully detached and lost. This is crucial for safety and regulatory mandates.
• Intuitive Use: The mechanism is extremely simple. Users just peel the open edge, read the content, and press the flap back down.
• Durability in Repetition: The simple, linear action of the hinge is highly durable, making it ideal for products that are opened and closed dozens of times (e.g., eye drops, vitamins).

2. Peel and Reseal Wrap-Around Labels: Capacity and Coverage

The wrap-around label is engineered for maximum printable area. It utilizes the full circumference of a container by wrapping around the base label, often covering it up to one full additional time.

Core Mechanics and Applications

• Attachment: The top layer fully peels away from the base layer, which remains adhered to the product. The label’s end section is the key point of reseal.
• Printable Area: Offers the largest capacity, utilizing the full 360° to 720° of available packaging space. This can accommodate extensive multi-page layouts.
• Best Use Cases:
  • Cylindrical Containers: Bottles of chemicals, large supplement jars, industrial containers, etc.
  • Heavy Content Loads: Multilingual content (4+ languages), extensive legal disclaimers, or long, step-by-step assembly instructions.

 Key Advantages for Content Management (CM)

• Unmatched Capacity: The wrap-around design allows for the consolidation of multiple pamphlets or booklets into a single, seamless label.
• Regulatory Efficiency: This is the most efficient way to achieve global compliance on a single SKU, housing regulatory text for diverse international markets.
• Design Separation: The primary branding can remain clean and unobstructed on the outer panel, while the dense, text-heavy regulatory content is hidden entirely on the inner panels.

The Technical Comparison: Which ECL is Right for You?

When to Choose the Hinge Label

If your priority is user-friendliness, security, and consistent access to a moderate amount of information, the hinge label is the clear choice. It works perfectly on small containers and for instructions that the consumer will reference repeatedly, ensuring the information is always where they need it.

When to Choose the Wrap-Around Label

If your product requires extensive regulatory text, multiple languages, or the consolidation of separate inserts into a single component, the wrap-around label provides the superior capacity. It is the powerhouse solution for complex, global labeling needs on cylindrical packaging.

The right extended content label isn’t just about fitting more text, it’s about optimizing consumer safety, maximizing your packaging efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Need help determining if your unique product shape and content requirements are best suited for a Hinge or a Wrap-Around?  Contact Star Label Products today for a specialized assessment of your Extended Content Label needs.

How Extended Content Labels (ECLs) Are the Secret Weapon for OTC Pharma Compliance to Avoid Regulatory Nightmare

In the crowded aisle of your local pharmacy, two things compete for consumer attention: clarity and compliance.

As an OTC pharmaceutical brand, you must deliver complex, non-negotiable information—dosage, warnings, ingredients, and storage—while ensuring your packaging remains attractive and user-friendly. When regulations evolve, finding the space for new mandates can feel like a regulatory nightmare.

The solution is not a bigger box or a mess of tiny text; it’s the strategic use of Extended Content Labels (ECLs).

The OTC Labeling Squeeze:

The fundamental challenge in OTC labeling is simple: the volume of required information has outpaced the available package space.

1. The Growing Regulatory Burden

Recent years have brought increasing demands for consumer safety and transparency, including:

• Multilingual Instructions: Essential for large, diverse markets.
• Detailed Safety/Adverse Event Warnings: Requires clear, prominent placement.
• Active vs. Inactive Ingredients: Must be fully spelled out and categorized.
• Updated Storage and Disposal Guidance: Increasingly important for environmental and safety compliance.

2. The Marketing Mandate

You can’t sacrifice shelf appeal. A package that is cluttered, confusing, or simply too large to hold comfortably will lose out to cleaner competitors. Traditional solutions—like bulky carton packaging or difficult-to-handle folded paper inserts—add complexity, cost, and often frustrate the consumer.

Information Access – Not Clutter

Extended Content Labels (ECLs), particularly the Peel and Reseal format, solve the space crisis by creating a multi-page booklet that adheres directly to the package.

This construction gives you the freedom to move detailed, complex, or multilingual text off the primary panel and underneath a clean, accessible top layer.

Why Star Label Products’ ECLs are Perfect for OTC Pharma:

3 Ways ECLs Secure Your Compliance and Brand

1. Eliminating the “Lost Insert” Risk

Regulatory bodies often require vital information to be accessible for the duration of the product’s use. When you use a separate folded paper insert, you run the risk of the consumer discarding it or losing it immediately after opening.

ECLs are fixed to the container. Whether you use a Hinge or a Wrap, the critical regulatory information stays exactly where it needs to be, vastly reducing liability and non-compliance risk associated with missing warnings.

2. Ensuring Readability (Beyond Minimum Font Size)

Compliance requires not just including the information, but presenting it in a way that is easily understandable and legible. Attempting to fit new mandates by dropping the font size to the absolute minimum is poor patient care and a potential regulatory headache.

ECLs provide multiple internal panels, allowing you to print critical text in a readable font size and use clear formatting (bolding, bullet points), significantly enhancing user comprehension.

3. Streamlining Global SKUs

If you sell a single product across multiple regions, you know the complexity of juggling packaging variants. A Peel and Reseal Wrap Label can consolidate regulatory information for several countries (e.g., English, Spanish, and French for North America) onto one standardized label. This consolidation dramatically simplifies inventory, reduces printing costs, and speeds up time-to-market.

✅ Your OTC Pharma Labeling Compliance Checklist

Before finalizing your next packaging run, use this checklist to ensure your label strategy is built for both compliance and consumer experience.

Don’t Let Compliance Be a Compromise

The right label is more than just a sticker—it’s a regulatory safeguard and a commitment to consumer clarity. By leveraging the advanced capabilities of Extended Content Labels, Star Label Products can help you meet the strictest mandates while achieving the cleanest, most effective presentation.

Ready to ditch the clutter and secure your compliance?

Contact Star Label Products experts today for a personalized consultation on the perfect Peel and Reseal label for your OTC product line.

Hot Foil Stamping vs. Metallic Foil Labels

When it comes to adding a touch of elegance and premium appeal to your products, both hot foil stamping and metallic foil labels are excellent choices. However, they are distinct processes with different applications and results. This page will explain each process and outline their key differences. Contact Star Label for all of your custom label printing requirements.

Hot Foil Stamping

Hot Stamp Label

Hot foil stamping is a dry printing method where a metallic or colored foil is applied to a surface using heat and pressure. A heated die presses the foil onto the material, creating a permanent, high-quality design.

The process involves creating a die of the design, which is then heated. The foil is placed between the heated die and the substrate (the material being printed on). When the die presses down, the foil adheres to the substrate, leaving behind the desired metallic or colored finish.

Typical Applications of Hot Foil Stamping

• Luxury packaging (cosmetics, perfumes, spirits)
• Labels for premium products
• Seals

Metallic Foil Labels

Metallic Foil Label

Metallic foil labels, on the other hand, are pre-made labels with a metallic finish. These labels are produced separately and then applied to the product using adhesive.

These labels are often made from materials like polyester or vinyl, which are then metalized or printed with a metallic ink to create the foil-like effect. They come with an adhesive backing, similar to regular stickers, for easy application.

Typical Applications of Metallic Foil Labels

• Product labeling
• Promotional stickers
• Decorative accents
• Faux metallic look
• Seals 
  

Key Differences Summarized

Here’s a table summarizing the key differences between hot foil stamping and metallic foil labels:

Hot foil stamping offers a more premium, durable, and tactile finish, making it ideal for luxury packaging and high-end applications. Metallic foil labels are a more cost-effective and versatile solution for general labeling and branding purposes.

Contact Star Label to discuss your custom label requirements and let us help you make your product shine!

Why Choose Labeling vs. Screen Printing

When it comes to product marketing, one important decision is whether to use labeling or screen printing. Labeling is attaching pre-printed or digitally printed labels to a product’s packaging. On the other hand, screen printing is printing images or designs directly onto a product’s packaging using ink and a mesh screen. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, but labeling has become popular for many businesses.

This article will discuss why choosing labeling over screen printing can be a wise decision by discussing its benefits.

Benefits of Labeling for Product Packaging

The following are the reasons why you should choose labeling vs. screen printing:

Cost-Effective

Labeling is cheaper than screen printing, as the latter requires more specialized equipment and ink. This is especially essential to consider for small businesses with limited resources to invest in expensive screen printing equipment.

Customizable

Labeling also offers greater customization options compared to screen printing. Labels allow businesses to easily create unique designs for their product packaging, including different shapes and sizes.

Faster Turnaround Time

Companies can quickly print and apply labels to their product packaging, which can be important for businesses with high-volume production runs and tight market schedules.

Durable

While screen printing is often touted for its durability, labeling can also be a durable option for product packaging. Advances in labeling technology have made it possible to create labels resistant to water, chemicals, and other environmental factors. This means that labels can remain intact and legible even in harsh conditions.

Easy To Apply

Labels are easy to attach to various container materials, including glass, plastic, and metal. In addition, labels can be applied by hand or with automated labeling machines, making it a flexible process.

Adjustable

Labels can sometimes be easily removed and replaced if necessary, which can be important for businesses that frequently update their product offerings. On the other hand, screen-printed designs are final once printed.

Low Environmental Impact

Labels can be made from eco-friendly materials such as recycled paper. They can also be easily removed from the packaging for recycling purposes. On the other hand, screen printing sometimes uses harsh chemicals and inks that can harm the environment.

Excellent Branding

Both labeling and screen printing offer great branding and marketing opportunities. Labels can include product information, barcodes, and other essential information. However, labeling allows businesses to change their branding and marketing strategies over time without throwing away old pre-printed packaging.

Maximize Your Brand Recognition With Custom Labels From Star Label Products

If you’re looking for a superior product packaging solution, it’s important to consider the benefits of labeling vs. screen printing. At Star Label Products, we specialize in custom labeling services that can help your brand stand out from the competition! Our versatile and cost-effective labeling options are tailored to meet your unique needs and exceed your expectations.

Contact us today and experience the excellence in print quality and customer satisfaction that Star Label Products offers!

Distinguish Your Brand With Craft Beer Labels

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The craft beer market has seen tremendous growth in recent years, with the number of breweries increasing dramatically. However, this increase in competition means it’s more important than ever to stand out on the shelves and grab the attention of potential customers. One way to do this is by creating unique, eye-catching labels for your beer.

This article will explore how to use your beer labels to distinguish your brand and make a lasting impression on your customers.

Elements of Craft Beer Labels

Craft beer has become a wildly popular beverage in recent years. But, with so many options available, it can be challenging to distinguish one brand from another. That’s where craft beer labels come in — they serve as the face of the brand, helping retain customers by setting the product apart from competitors.

Here are the key elements of craft beer labels that make them stand out:

Distinctive Branding

A consistent and recognizable brand image is crucial for beer producers, so the label should reflect the brand’s personality and values. For example, a brewery that prides itself on eco-friendliness may use labels with earthy tones and nature imagery. Similarly, a brewery with a more playful and lighthearted motif may use brighter colors and more whimsical designs.

Compelling Graphic Design

The design is important in grabbing the attention of potential customers; unique imagery and other visual elements make the label appealing. First, however, you must consider your target market. For instance, beers branded as high-end beverages would be more attractive with sleek, neat graphics and elegant fonts. On the other hand, those marketed to more party-loving individuals — such as college students — could be served well by bright and bold color schemes.

Flavor and Aroma Representation

Customers want to know what to expect from the flavor and scent of a beer before they buy it. Thus, a well-designed craft beer label with descriptive language and appropriate imagery should give them an idea of what to expect.

Straightforward Details

Labels often convey important information — the product name, alcohol content, ingredients, and brewing method. Hence, this information should be easy to read and understand. Use a clear font and adequate space between elements. The label should also follow all legal requirements and list the alcohol content and any potential allergens.

Uniqueness and Remarkability

A craft beer label should be memorable, allowing buyers to recognize and remember the brand apart from competitors. Use distinctive graphics, texts, and other designs to improve consumer loyalty and brand awareness over time.

Craftsmanship

Craft beer is all about brewing art; the label should reflect that. The label can develop customer confidence and credibility by demonstrating the brewery’s attention to detail and devotion to quality. For example, a label that includes photos of the brewing process or the brewer’s autograph might showcase the handcrafted quality of the beer.

Elevate Your Craft Beer With Star Label Products

Elevate your craft beer business with Star Label Products, the leading provider of custom-label printing services! We can help you make your business stand out from competing products and increase brand recognition and sales. Our tailored label solutions and state-of-the-art printing technology guarantee the finest product labels that perfectly fit your needs and budget.

Make your craft beer a success story with Star Label Products! Contact us today to get started.

How Waterproof Beer Labels Can Bolster Your Brand

It is well-known in the food industry that the aesthetics of your product presentation matters, as people eat first with their eyes. So whether it’s food on a plate or the design of the branding on food packaging, people don’t want to consume what doesn’t appeal to their eyes.

In the case of beverages, like ice-cold drinks, it’s the beauty of the packaging that makes it stand out on the shelf. But don’t you hate when your bottled drink’s label falls apart when the ice starts to moisten or melt? Not only does it look cheap, but it feels cheap as well.

The same can be said for beer labels. Aside from the good-tasting beer, you also want a label that stands out and looks as fresh as when it came off the shelf. Labeling is one of the significant ways to communicate with consumers, and it is essential to use reliable and attractive labels that won’t break apart from moisture.

Waterproof labels or water-resistance beer labels pop and stick to the bottle for a more extended period, even when exposed to moisture.

What Are Waterproof Labels?

In a nutshell, a waterproof label is a label that is highly resistant to the penetration of water. Its print, face material, and adhesive are all waterproof. The waterproof quality is achieved using laminates and liquid varnishes that prevent the penetration of water.

Advantages of Waterproof Labels

Aside from their water-resistant properties, waterproof labels are also durable. They are made with a robust and permanent adhesive, and comes in sheet or roll. It also holds up under a wide range of temperatures and is resistant to scuffing, tearing, and smudging. The logos, designs, and texts on a waterproof label stay readable.

Waterproof labels achieve a high-quality level without sacrificing the design aesthetics.

What Should You Look For In A Waterproof Beer Label?

Say you finally decided to use waterproof labels for your beer product; the key factors you need to keep an eye out for are:

Label Material

The first thing to look out for is the label face sheet material. Paper labels tend to break down when exposed to water for a long time. Film labels, on the other hand, are more resistant to moisture. There are also different film materials you can choose from, such as polypropylenes, polyester, and polyolefin.

Print Protection

Print protection refers to a laminate or varnish that protects your waterproof beer label from water.

Proper Application

All of this is in vain if the application is not done correctly. Labels must be applied properly so that there is no “lift up” (i.e., wrinkles or bubbles) in the label that would allow moisture to seep in. Star Label Products can also assist with identifying the best way to apply your labels.

How can Waterproof Beer Labels set your brand apart?

High-quality waterproof beer labels do more than just look pretty. A good label helps build recognition and shares the visual story of your brand. When customized, it also sets your brand apart and makes it more appealing. People like products that look good, and if your beer label is something fun, unique, and high-quality, it will likely catch the eyes of the consumers who will ultimately buy your beer products.

Why Choose Star Label Products For Your Waterproof Beer Labels?

At Star Label Products, we can provide the perfect waterproof label using suitable materials that ensure durability and excellent quality. We will help you create a label that stands out, can handle moisture without falling off, and with the highest quality.

With a state-of-the-art facility and ten printing presses, we offer a wide array of capabilities such as flexographic printing, digital label printing, extended content labels, custom nameplates, embellishment techniques, custom printed tags, custom flexible packaging, and thermal printing/ laser/ dot matrix.

When your brand needs to create a striking presentation, Star Label is the best to call to help your brand shine! Contact us to learn more about our capabilities and how we make the best custom waterproof craft beer labels.

Guide to E-Liquid (E-Juice) Labeling

As e-cigarettes and vaping grow in popularity, so does competition between manufacturers. To stand out to consumers, companies that make e-liquid, or e-juice products must label them with attractive branding as well as all the necessary information required by the FDA.

Because the FDA regulates e-cigarettes and their components as tobacco products, labels must comply with these strict industry standards. Learn more about what it takes to produce effective and compliant e-liquid labeling.

Importance of Custom Labeling

Labeling is essential to attracting potential buyers of e-liquid products. Eye-catching custom labels increase brand awareness and stand out in a competitive market. The best labels visually convey to customers how the e-juice smells and tastes. As the e-cigarette industry grows, so will scrutiny by the FDA, especially regarding product labeling.

E-Liquid Labeling Requirements

E-liquid products are considered electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), a form of tobacco product. The FDA requires any tobacco product intended for the manufacture, labeling, packaging, sale, advertising, promotion, import, and distribution in the United States to be properly labeled. These regulations are meant to provide warnings and prohibit the sale of ENDS products to minors.

The FDA requires e-liquid product labels to abide by the following rules:

• Nicotine Disclaimer: Labeling must include the statement, “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.” The text must be at least 12 point size, highly legible, and printed in a bold font with a contrasting background. The warning should bear the exact capitalization and punctuation. It must also take up 30% of the surface of two primary display panels on the label.
• Manufacturer/Distributor Information: Products must include the manufacturer or distributor’s name and business address on the label.
• No Advertising to Minors: E-juice products are not meant for those under the age of 18. Therefore, labels for e-liquid bottles should not target children. Improper advertising includes those that imitate candy, fruit, cartoons, and other “kid-friendly” imagery and wording.
• Accurate Quantity Measurements: Labeling must clearly and accurately state the weight, amount, and/or numerical count of the e-juice product. The label must also include the percentages of domestically produced tobacco and foreign grown tobacco that are in the product.
• Domestic Sale Only: Labels for tobacco products—including packaging and shipping containers—must include the statement, “Sale only allowed in the United States.”

Considerations for E-Juice Labels

In addition to FDA regulations, there are other considerations that are important for effectively labeling your e-liquid product.

Labels must be correctly sized to contain both FDA-required information and your desired branding. Creative branding makes an impact and helps you gain long-term customers. (Note: avoid misrepresenting your product to children with colorful or cartoonish designs. Labeling should not attract consumers under 18—doing so is a sure way to get your product banned.) Colors, graphics, and logos should be consistent and recognizable throughout your product line. E-liquid labels require high-quality and uniform label materials that will not fade or smudge.

While it is possible to print e-liquid labels using DIY methods, it is not ideal. Professional printers offer a diverse range of expertise that will elevate the appearance and quality of your e-juice bottle labels. Printing labels on your own requires you to acquire and maintain your own printer, label paper, and ink. The price of your first batch of labels can easily reach $500, and this is before laminating or varnishing to keep the label protected. In contrast, partnering with a labeling professional can produce high-quality labels with a quick turnaround time and lower upfront costs.

Custom Labels from Star Label Products

Labeling e-liquid products requires close attention to FDA regulations and eye-catching, consistent branding to earn consumers’ attention and trust. At Star Label Products, we put our customers first, providing advice and support from start to finish. Our printing capabilities allow us to create vibrant labels that will stand the test of time and help your product jump out among the competition. We also promise the fastest lead times in the industry.

Contact us to learn more about our custom label printing services.

An Intro to Custom Printed Flexible Packaging

What Is Flexible Packaging?

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Flexible packaging refers to packaging materials made from non-rigid materials, such as paper, plastic, and foil. This packaging solution is highly versatile as a variety of containers can be created to suit different products, including bags and pouches. Additionally, the containers can be customized to various functional and aesthetic requirements, ensuring they exactly meet the needs of the customer.

Give Your Brand An Advantage: Benefits of Using Flexible Packaging

There are many benefits to using flexible packaging. For example:

• It extends the shelf life of products. If the right design and material are chosen, flexible packaging containers can maintain the temperature, moisture, and/or oxygen levels required to keep packaged goods fresh. This ability is especially important for food and beverage products.
• It offers better portability, usability, and reusability. Flexible packaging containers come with various design options, such as the ability to reseal. These features can improve the customer experience, increasing the chance that they will repurchase the product.
• It requires less water and energy to produce. Since flexible packaging is made using less water and energy than rigid packaging, it can be considered a greener packaging option.
• It enhances the shelf appeal of products. The broad range of packaging designs and customization options enables flexible packaging containers to be optimized for shelf appeal, which improves the likelihood of the product catching the eye of potential customers.
• It reduces shipping and handling costs. Flexible packaging containers are generally lighter than comparable rigid packaging containers, making them easier and, consequently, cheaper to handle and ship.

Finding the Right Fit: Types of Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging is available in various designs, materials, and sizes. It also comes in formed (pre-shaped containers ready for in-house filled and sealing operations) and unformed (rolls of materials intended to be sent to co-packers for forming, filling, and sealing) configurations. Examples of flexible packaging containers include stock bags, pouches, sachets, and printed roll stock.

Flexible Packaging vs. Rigid Packaging

Both flexible packaging and rigid packaging are widely used by product manufacturers. The key difference between them is that flexible packaging is made from materials that can be easily bent without risk of breaking, while rigid packaging is made from materials that cannot be easily bent without risk of breaking. This material difference makes flexible packaging better suited for products that require durable, portable, and lightweight containers and rigid packaging better suited for products that require highly protective containers. Typical products packaged in flexible packaging containers include chips, milk, frozen food, biscuits, bread, sour cream, and yogurt. Typical products packaged in rigid packaging containers include aerosols sprays, soups, water, laundry detergent, liquor, and perfumes.

Ensure Your Product Stands Out on the Shelves With Star Label Products

The customizability of flexible packaging enables you to tailor your containers to suit your exact functional and aesthetic needs. However, it is important to partner with an experienced flexible packaging manufacturer to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to produce them to your specifications and standards.

At Star Label Products, we are one of a handful of label manufacturers that offer flexible packaging solutions. Our in-housing printing capabilities allow us to create custom printed flexible packaging roll stock that is co-packer ready. If you need a co-packer recommendation for form and filling operations, we have an extensive list of reliable companies we trust. We can act as a liaison between you and the co-packer, including directly shipping the printed rolls to them for streamlined operations.

Typical products for which we provide flexible packaging solutions include:

• Food and beverages
• Household goods
• Nutraceuticals
• Personal care products
• Pet care products
• Printed sample pouches
• Single-serve packettes
• Stick packs
• Wine and spirits

If you’re looking for a single-source provider of custom flexible packaging solutions, contact us today. Our free sample packets ensure you find the solution that is perfect for you, while our 1-2 week turnaround time makes certain you receive your solution quickly.

A Guide to Custom Labels

Product labels serve different functions depending on the interested party—e.g., supplier vs. consumer. For product manufacturers and distributors, they enable them to differentiate between different items within a line, convey product information, and market their company’s brand to consumers. However, how a label is designed and manufactured significantly impacts how effective it is at performing the above functions. For this reason, many companies use custom labels when manufacturing and marketing their products.

Custom labels are a way to ensure a product—and its important information—is easily identifiable by consumers. They also allow industry professionals to customize the design of the product’s packaging—such as the graphics, textures, and finishes—to suit their brand’s aesthetic. While many industries use custom labels for their products, ranging from cosmetics and personal care products to cannabis and craft beers, ensuring they stand out in the marketplace often necessitates partnering with an experienced and knowledgeable service provider with superior graphic services.

The following article provides an overview of custom labels, covering how to make a custom label stand out, key manufacturing processes, and typical applications.

Key Design Considerations for Custom Labels

When designing custom labels for products, there is no one-size-fits-all format that will ensure the products catch a consumer’s eye. However, there are several design elements to consider that make a label more compelling and appealing, both in the in-store and online markets. Some of the design considerations to keep in mind are:

1. Material

The first step in designing a label is choosing a material. The material selected sets a tone and limitations for all other design elements. For example, an opaque white material offers considerable design freedom as it can be colored over or left as is for the graphics and texts, while a clear material highlights a product’s internal contents. 

2. Color

The choice of color can draw attention to a product, increasing the likelihood of a consumer picking it up. Additionally, label colors that contrast with those of competing products make it easy for consumers to distinguish a product on a retail shelf or web page.

When choosing a color, it’s important to consider the overall package. The colors of the label should work with the colors of the packaging and the product contents. Otherwise, the product as a whole may be less visually attractive.

3. Graphics

Similar to color, graphics affect the overall effectiveness of a label. Graphics that are visually appealing attract more consumer attention. Additionally, if well-designed, they can reduce the amount of text required to convey the necessary product and brand information, resulting in a more streamlined and polished label design.  

4. Font

The font chosen for a label is critical. It must draw attention from consumers without sacrificing readability. When selecting one, you should avoid both overly common fonts and overly decorative fonts. You may also choose to invest in a custom font that fits your brand’s aesthetic taste.

5. Finish

The finish of a label largely depends on your company’s taste and the effect you want to achieve. Both glossy and matte finishes offer their own advantages; the reflective and shiny look of a glossy finish adds impact, while the subdued look of a matte finish makes for a simpler and more classic look.

6. Size

The size of a product label should correspond with other aspects of the product’s packaging, including the size and shape of the packaging container. For example, for large round containers, you may use either one wraparound label or individual smaller labels for the front and back sides. Regardless of which option you choose, it is important to keep the branding information centered in the front as it is what draws consumer attention to your product.

7. Shape

In addition to color, graphics, and text font, consumers take notice of a label’s shape. Unusually and interestingly shaped labels are more recognizable and memorable. Alternatively, you can use color to mimic the effect of a custom shaped label by printing the shape on clear material.

8. Theme

Product lines with multiple variations—e.g., different flavors—should have labels with consistent design themes. While each label should clearly identify the variation, it should be easy for the consumer to recognize all variations as belonging to the same line.

9. Contact Information

Labels are multi-functional. In addition to attracting attention from consumers, they serve as a method of putting your brand out there. You should capitalize on the advertising space provided by product labels by adding contact information—such as a phone number or website—that allows consumers to interact with you directly if desired.

5 Processes Used to Create High-Quality Custom Labels

Industry professionals employ a variety of different processes to manufacture labels. When creating high-quality custom labels, five of the most commonly used methods are:

1. Flexographic Printing

Flexographic printing is a high-speed rotary printing process that uses a flexible printing plate to transfer ink—including metallics, pastels, and opaque whites—to various substrates. It offers fast and efficient printing, including for large swathes of color and on non-porous materials, in low to high volume production runs.

2. Digital Printing

Compared to traditional printing methods, the digital printing process offers greater precision and accuracy with shorter lead times and lower costs. It employs digital software and printing equipment—such as an HP Indigo digital press—to produce high-resolution images and text. As it does not require conventional printing plates and physical inking, it comes with much lower material and labor costs. 

Additionally, its use of digital design software allows you to make alterations to a label’s design, at little to no additional cost, to meet changing needs. Altogether, these qualities make the process suitable for prototyping and small-medium volume runs.

3. Extended Content Label Production

Extended content labels are used for products that have a significant amount of information that needs to be conveyed to consumers, such as pharmaceutical products. They feature multiple layers, providing a larger surface area on which text and graphics can be printed.

4. Embellishment

Embellishment operations allow you to customize your label further to improve its effectiveness. For example, you can laminate the label which increases its durability and longevity while adding textures and finishes that help it stand out. Some examples are leather, linen, and soft touch (silky). 

5. Thermal, Laser, and Dot Matrix Printing

Some applications require labels with variable information, meaning each label features different information from every other label in the roll. One example is “best by” labels. For these situations, thermal printing, laser printing, and dot-matrix printing all serve as an ideal solution. These processes accommodate and apply a variety of ink colors to specified areas of a label, allowing for information to be added as needed.

Regardless of the type of label manufacturing method employed, having a design file for your label ready significantly facilitates production operations and better ensures the final product meets your exact specifications. 

For assistance preparing a design file, see our How to Prepare an Art File page.

Applications of Custom Labels

Custom labels find application in a wide range of industries. At Star Label Products, we have extensive experience designing and delivering the following types:

Custom Cannabis Labels

Recent legalization efforts have led to a growing market for cannabis-infused products. While legal standings vary from state to state, for areas where cannabis products are allowed, the industry carries specific guidelines on what information should be included on product labels. Key factors include strain name, date tested, lab name and test confirmation number, net weight in grams, CBD percentage, and THC percentage. How this information should be displayed, however, depends on the state. Non-compliance with the state’s requirements can lead to the product being pulled from the shelves.  

If you want to bring a new cannabis product to market, turn to the experts at Star Label Products. We can produce cost-effective custom cannabis labels that showcase your products and comply with all applicable federal and state requirements. As cannabis industry regulations are constantly changing, our digital printing capabilities—which accommodate prototyping and short-run projects—make us the ideal partner. We also offer flexographic printing capabilities for longer runs. Some of the cannabis products we regularly make labels for include flower, edibles, tinctures, oil, topicals, and more.

Custom Cosmetic Labels and Custom Personal Care Product Labels

Our design and printing capabilities—including UV flexographic printing, digital printing, and rotary screen printing—accommodate a wide range of cosmetic and personal care product label needs. Equipped with over 40 years of printing experience, our expert team has the knowledge and skills to produce high-quality, durable, and eye-catching labels that suit your company’s aesthetic and all applicable industry requirements. 

We provide labels in a variety of materials, designs, shapes, and colors to suit different cosmetic and personal care products, including eye shadow, lipstick, nail polish, shampoo, and soap.

Custom Craft Beer Labels

The popularity of craft beer is rising, and with it comes a growing demand for craft beer bottle labels. For new and existing craft breweries, our digital printing services are an ideal solution for their beer label needs. We offer a variety of face stock and adhesive options to produce attractive and long-lasting digitally printed custom labels for bottles and cans at a low cost. Each label features all pertinent brand and government-mandated information (e.g., alcohol content and surgeon general warning)

Custom Food Labels and Custom Beverage Labels

For food and beverages, labels often serve as the first point of contact between the product and the consumer. The quality of the design can spell the difference between a successful product and a failed product. If the label does not convey the necessary product information (as dictated by the FDA) or establish an adequate understanding of your brand in the consumer, there is a much lower risk of a repeat purchase.

By working with us, you can guarantee your custom food or beverage labels comply with FDA guidelines and showcase your brand. We accommodate a variety of food and beverage products—including dairy, candies, condiments, dressings, meat and seafood, pastries, soups and stews, and more—with our digital label printing, flexographic printing, and embellishment processes.

Custom Household Product Labels

The two main challenges faced when producing labels for household goods are the nature of the products (i.e., the product ingredients degrade the label) and the irregularly shaped product packaging (i.e., the packaging shape prevents the label from adequately adhering).

At Star Label Products, our digital printing, UV flexographic printing, and extended content label production methods overcome both of these challenges. We produce high-quality labels for a variety of household products, such as all-purpose, specialty, and floor and furniture cleaners.

Custom Pharmaceutical Labels and Custom Nutraceutical Labels

Like many products intended for human consumption, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products come with strict packaging and labeling requirements. Our in-depth knowledge of the standards and best practices of both industries enables us to design, develop, and deliver compliant custom labels for their many products, such as medicines, supplements, and vitamins.  

Custom Promotional Labels

Promotional labels are marketing materials used to draw additional attention to products without making changes to their packaging. Equipped with an adhesive backing, they can be easily applied when needed.

Our team is well-versed in the design and production of these labels. Regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the design, if you need a custom promotional label, we can produce it to your exact specifications.

Custom Proposition 65 Warning Labels

Proposition 65 refers to the Safe Drinking and Toxic Enforcement act—also known as the “right to know” law. Effective as of 1986, it dictates that California-based businesses with 10 or more employees must provide “clear and reasonable” warnings regarding exposure to compounds that can cause birth defects, cancer, or reproductive issues. Ultimately, the law aims to prevent California residents from ingesting water that may contain these substances. As such, any company that manufactures, distributes, or sells products in California must have compliant product labels.

The Star Label Products team is well aware of the label requirements outlined by the law. We can produce full-color custom prop 65 labels in a variety of materials and sizes, either as a standalone solution or by integrating the warning into an existing design.

Custom Security Labels

Security labels protect products from tampering, counterfeiting, and illegal handling. Our high-quality security label solutions defend your consumers and your brand’s integrity. We can print your labels with custom barcodes, text, or serial numbers as needed. Microtext and invisible ink are just two additional examples of how Star Label Products can offer increased security for your products. 

Custom UL Labels

UL labels identify a product as in compliance with UL standards. At Star Label Products, we are authorized to print UL registered certification marks for products that meet UL standards. We also supply blank UL recognized labels so you can print your own labels in-house. All of our UL labels are designed and constructed to UL standards.

Help Your Custom Labels Stand Out With Our Superior Graphic Services

In addition to our label manufacturing capabilities, we also provide graphic services to help customers develop a label design that meets their exact needs. Armed with extensive experience and state-of-the-art design software and hardware, our graphics department is well-equipped to produce artwork for any label application.

Partner With Star Label Products for High-Quality Custom Label Solutions

At Star Label Products, we design and deliver high-quality custom labels for a wide range of industries. By partnering with us for your custom label needs, you benefit from our:

• Over four decades of industry experience
• Extensive label manufacturing services, including design assistance, printing, and the addition of embellishment techniques 
• A broad range of material, color, size, and other label customization options

To find out more about our custom label capabilities or request a quote, contact us today.