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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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