Plastic labels enhance markets of blow moulded plastic containers.

Plastics labels made from either shrink or stretch films have been used to provide protection and aesthetics to packaging containers. These labels are quite commonly seen on carbonated drink bottles. In fact, they provide attractive graphics to the plain PET bottles. In the recent developments, these labels have found to cover the entire body of containers mainly with a view to enhance the sales appeal of the products using catching graphics. In fact, some of the recent market research studies conducted in North America indeed clearly illustrate the advantages of these new full body plastic labels. They have helped in achieving tremendous increase in the sales of consumer products as well as of rigid plastic packaging, mainly of blow moulded products.

It is also predicted that plastic labels will grow at 20% over the next few years. It is therefore but natural that plastics containers would also increase their markets by replacement of card board tubes (Fritolys & Wafers). These full body plastic bottles can be easily used in place of transparent products without losing any sales appeal. The black coloured container could be an economic alternative to the UV stabilised transparent containers. While stretch and shrink film labels can be used, shrink labels offer better graphic possibility due to several types of printable friendly polymeric materials that can offer excellent clarity and gloss, the two primary requirements of labels. Stretch film essentially made from LLDPE on the other hand offers economy. For shrink labels, several materials are used that include BOPP, PVC, PS and Polyester copolymers.

BOPP labels, developed by AET Films and Exxon Mobil have shrinkage of maximum 25% in machine direction and have hotmelt adhesives on one surface for sealing, are used for simple bottles having less contours and shapes. They also demand higher temperature for shrinkage. On the other hand, PVC shrink labels have high shrinkage (almost 50-70%) in transverse directions. The low shrink tension and low temperatures required for shrinkage make PVC labels to have the highest market share. In fact almost 2/3rd of shrink label business belongs to PVC. There is however a small technical problem of easy separation by floatation method in recycling from PET containers because of similar density. Styrenic labels based on SB resins or K-resins of Chevron Phillips can provide 40% shrinkage and are softer due to Butadiene contents. Polyester copolymers like PETG of Eastman, although more expensive than all other types, are making in road into this business on account of the highest shrinkage (80%) and lower temperatures required for shrinkage. Klockner Pentaplast and Mitsubishi Polyester are the key players in Polyester labels. According to some market research studies conducted in North America, copolyesters grow at almost 35% while the workhorse PVC at 12%. Both BOPP and styrenic shrink labels are expected to show lower growth rate of about 8-10%.

American Fuji Seal, Sleeveco and Sleever Canada are the most well known integrated suppliers of the entire range of shrink labels and high speed equipments needed for sleeves/label application on containers or other products. Shrink labels market in India is growing quite well mainly in PVC but the other types of shrink labels are either in the nascent stage(BOPP) or are non-existent.

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