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5 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Keg Collar Design

Boring packaging is a missed opportunity for your brewery. Anything attached to your beer should make a statement about the quality of your product (and the amazing people who made it). That’s why it’s so essential that you make your keg collars pop.

A stellar keg collar is a tremendous sales tool for breweries of all sizes. Let’s break down what you can do to make your collars stand out in bars, at cookouts, and anywhere else your kegs may travel.

Showcase Your Brand (Without Losing Track of Key Info)

Keg collars play a few different roles for your brewery. The most basic function of these labels is to share key information with your customers. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau requires breweries to include the following details on every collar.

Brewery and brewery address
Class of beer
Net contents
Alcoholic content (ABV)
Production date
Health warning statement
Keg pressure warning

While these details are essential for keg collar compliance, they don’t need to be the star of the show. Compliance info isn’t going to sell your beer, but a notable logo or some appropriate visual elements can help your brand burrow into the brains of buyers.

As long as you follow the TTB’s rules for the font size and presentation for warning statements and other details, you have free reign to make sure your brewery is what people remember. A prominent logo is a great start, but you can also build consumer trust by sharing your local pride or highlighting your brewery’s personality in your design.

A collection of keg collar designs and other beer labels.

Color Them Impressed

A little color can make a world of difference for your keg collars. While gray-scale keg collars are simple, inexpensive options, you want your packaging to go beyond basic black and white.

Combining full-color printing with your branding is a surefire way to capture attention. Blasts of red, green, or any other color make for a stark contrast against metallic kegs, so don’t be afraid to go big and bold with your design choices. Different color combinations and label materials can also make key design elements “pop” for soon-to-be diehard fans, so play around with your brand colors and other showy hues to make your keg collar’s presence known.

Build Your Design Around Your Production Needs

As you may expect, one brewery can have vastly different needs than another. Those exact requirements have a direct impact on your keg collar design, especially when it comes to listing what beer is in a keg. There are a few different approaches you can take with your design.

Add a blank space where you can write the beer name and date.
Include a list of multiple options with check boxes for flagship beers.
Make multiple keg collar designs with dedicated beers printed directly on them.

If you know that you’ll have enough volume to order dedicated keg collars for a flagship beer, that extra bit of branding certainly looks professional. Meanwhile, a blank space is the easiest option if flexibility is your biggest concern. Each approach makes a lot of sense, so make sure your keg collar design is based around your needs.

Follow Keg Collar Specs

Not all design tips are about fun ideas like bold colors and custom shapes. You’ll want to build some safeguards into your keg collar design to make sure they come out they way they should. That’s why every good keg collar template should typically incorporate the following elements into its art file.

Dieline – A line indicating where the actual cut is made on the final design of a label.
Safe zone – A buffer between the dieline and main portion of the collar design.
Bleed – A line that indicates where the collar art should extend past the die cut into the matrix.

Each of these elements are designed to create a little bit of wiggle room to make sure key elements don’t get cut off or that you don’t have any unintended white space. In general, you should allow for at least 1/8” of bleed and 1/16” of space between the dieline and any elements. The keg collar template below can serve as a good example of a dieline, safe zone, and bleed.

A keg collar template showing an example dieline, safe zone, and bleed.

Maximize the Value of Your Keg Collars

No matter your design, your brewery deserves top-notch keg collars. Blue Label has the capabilities necessary to deliver industry-best print quality and unmatched customer service that help you maximize your branding opportunities.

Our team is here to help you get the most out of your design and uncover a solution that works with your budget. We also help breweries maximize their investment through our Keg Collar Cooperative, a program to allow brewers to group your keg collar order with other orders. This process spreads out setup costs so that we can offer quality, high-performance keg collars for as little as 15 cents per collar. Learn more about our Keg Collar Cooperative today.

Whether you utilize our Keg Collar Cooperative or need a completely custom design, Blue Label is here to deliver stunning labels with industry-best turnaround times. Contact us today to make the most of your keg collars.

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Waterproof Beer Labels: How to Protect Your Labels

Beer labels and moisture just simply don’t mix. Of course, that’s a major problem for an industry where cans and bottles get wet all the time. From fill lines to beer coolers, moisture is an ever-present menace for beer packaging. That constant threat of label failure is exactly why the idea of waterproof beer labels is so attractive.

There’s just one problem with that concept – there is no such thing as a completely waterproof beer label. As much as we’d all love for a beer label to be completely waterproof, there’s no way to completely safeguard your labels from water and other forms of moisture.

While a 100 percent waterproof label isn’t attainable, all hope is not lost. There are several ways that you can make your beer label as resistant to moisture as possible. Let’s break down what you can do to protect your beer labels from water and other threats.

A waterproof beer bottle label for Jackie O’s Brewery. A six pack of waterproof beer labels for Land Grant Brewing Company.

Key Factors for Water-Resistant Beer Labels

When you need a “waterproof” beer can label or beer bottle label, every part of your label needs to built for success. Every label is made up of multiple layers, and each of these elements play a key role in how water resistant they are. As such, it’s important to weigh a few considerations when investing in custom beer labels.

Material selection

There are generally two types of label materials: paper and film. As you may expect, paper and moisture don’t work well together. Paper labels are great in many situations, but they can and will break down when wet. That’s a major problem when beer cans and bottles get soaking wet before application or sit in a cold, wet environment.

While paper definitely isn’t going to make for a waterproof beer label, films are much more resistant to moisture. Films like biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) don’t absorb water, so they aren’t at nearly as much risk of failing when they encounter water, oil, or other wet substances.

Adhesives

Adhesive selection is a major sticking point for beer labels. It doesn’t matter how water resistant your material is if your beer label won’t bind to your container. That’s why it’s vital to identify a moisture-resistant label adhesive that’s tailored to your exact needs.

The application process is one major hurdle for your adhesive. If your container will be wet going into the applicator, you’ll want to use some form of wet-apply adhesive to prepare for those conditions. These adhesives won’t completely eliminate beer label application failure, but it will drastically increase your success rate.

Of course, your adhesives need to work long after application. The best way to plan for long-term success is to use an adhesive that best accommodates how your products will be stored in the future. For beer, that means your adhesive will need to withstand high humidity, moisture, and cold temperatures. A water-resistant acrylic label is one option that can hold up better in coolers, refrigerators, and other damp environments.

It’s also important to remember that water isn’t the only form of moisture that can create problems. Contaminants like dirt and oil can wreak havoc with your adhesives. Even the beer itself can pose an unexpected problem If there’s leftover residue from the prefill process.

For example, the acidity in a radler, sour, or any other beer with fruit can create oxidation that can impact your materials, containers, and adhesive. As such, you’ll want to work out every detail with your Blue Label account representative to narrow down your search for the perfect label.

Release liners

It’s important not to forget about how your beer label gets to your container. The release liner is a thin sheet that is designed to carry your labels until they’re ready for application. While the release liner is removed before application, it still needs enough water resistance to make sure your label gets to its destination.

Simply put, wet applicating conditions will pose problems for certain release liners. A wet beer can or bottle can cause paper release liners to tear as they run through the machine. As with your label material, a film release liner will offer added water resistance to help enable a seamless applicating process.

Print protection

Every label can use a little extra protection. Finishing processes like lamination and varnishes are designed to shield your beer label from a variety of issues, including water.

While varnishes and laminates are both designed to protect your label, they’re applied in different ways. Varnishes are liquids that dry onto a label’s surface, making it a natural solution for a porous material like paper. Lamination is a layer of protective film that covers the top of your beer label, giving it another layer of defense against water, scratches, and other hazards.

The exact type of print protection you need depends on multiple factors, such as your choice of material or if you want these finishes to amplify your beer label design at all. Regardless of your choice, print protection is an essential part for just about any beer label.

Protect Your Image with Water-Resistant Beer Labels

Your craft beer labels play a critical role in marketing your product. Unfortunately, label failure can have an adverse affect on how people view your beer.

That’s why Blue Label works closely with companies to help them protect their brands with high-quality, water-resistant beer labels. Our experts can help you identify water-resistant solutions for every element of your beer label so that your beer cans and bottles will look amazing for your consumers.

Ready to waterproof your beer labels as much as possible? Contact Blue Label today to have us print quality, durable beer labels for your company.

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Craft Brewery Branding: 6 Ways to Build Trust Through Beer Labels

In a crowded market, beer drinkers want to feel confident that they’ve made the right choice. The problem is that without any nearby samples, the average consumer has to judge a book by its cover.

Fortunately, that cover can do a lot to build confidence in your craft brewery’s brand. There are multiple factors that play a role in beer selection. Your beer label is the perfect tool to make a first impression and tell interested consumers what your product is all about. Here are six ways that your beer labels can help you build trust with your customers.

A craft beer bottle with custom craft brewery branding.

Brewed on and Best By Dates

No craft beer lover wants to drink something that’s past its prime. While you can print date codes on the neck of your bottle, adding more details on your label is one way to engender trust with consumers. Including a brewed by date or a best by date will help potential buyers feel confident that your beers are still fresh.

Serving Facts and Ingredient Information

While beer labels are exempt from listing ingredients and nutritional information that doesn’t mean you can’t add them anyway. There’s a reason why massive beer industry brands like Bud Light chose to add serving facts labels in 2019 – it makes them look good.

Simply put, consumers like having as much information as possible. Including your ingredients, serving facts, or other nutritional information is just another way to add transparency about what’s in your beer. Even something as simple as tasting notes will give customers more details to digest before deciding if your beer is right for them.

Local Pride

A little local pride can go a long way toward attracting new customers. Brewery location is one of the top factors consumers consider when choosing craft beer according to Craft Brewing Business – and your labels are a perfect opportunity to play up that local connection.

Just how much does amplifying your local roots boost confidence for regional buyers? Craft Brewing Business learned that “locally brewed” was the most attractive claim to Americans in a survey of craft beer drinkers. Fortunately, your label is the perfect place to proclaim your local pride. There are multiple ways to do this – emblazon your labels with “brewed in [blank],” adjust your design to highlight local ties, etc. – and each can be the extra edge you need to attract new customers.

Craft Beer Sustainability

One major purchasing trend in recent years is the push to support green businesses. That trend is no stranger to craft beer branding. According to a Purdue University study, roughly “75 percent of beer consumers are willing to pay premiums for beer brewed using environmentally sustainable practices.” These practices include:

Water conservation
Energy use reduction
Landfill diversion

Your label is the perfect place to showcase your sustainability initiatives and create consumer confidence in your products. There are a few ways that you can communicate your sustainability efforts. The Environmental Protection Agency allows businesses to add ecolabel seals to their packaging if they meet certain environmental performance criteria.

You could also take sustainability to the next level with certain label materials. Utilizing paper materials made with post-consumer waste, including those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). By marking your products with an FSC label, you can show your consumers that your labels came from responsibly managed forests and that your company is doing its part to take care of the world’s forests.

Your Craft Brewery’s Personality

Remember when we said that brewery location was one of the top factors people consider when buying craft beer? It turns out that the brewery itself is another major consideration for potential patrons.

People naturally like to have a connection with the brands they support. Using your label to tell your brewery’s story is one way to get people to grow closer to your brand. Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality through your label – that identity is a big part of what makes your brewery different than the competition. In turn, people can feel confident that they’re supporting a one-of-a-kind business instead of just another brewery.

Multiple cans with custom craft beer branding.

Consistent Quality

According to a survey from C+R Research, 76 percent of people who enjoy alcohol say that price doesn’t influence their decision to buy craft beer. Instead, the top two factors driving people toward craft beer are taste and quality. Simply put, craft beer drinkers don’t want to waste their time on a substandard product – they simply want a great beer.

Fortunately, your beer labels play a pivotal role in conveying the quality of your product. A quality, eye-catching label sends a clear message to consumers that you take your products seriously. Of course, your design is just one part of an attractive beer label. It takes a good label printing company to help your beers dress for success.

At Blue Label, we have the experts and technology to help you get the most out of your beer labels. Our team works with you throughout the printing process to not only enhance your design, but also protect your packaging from unsightly scratches and water damage. We also offer a variety of resources like our designer directory to help you find the right graphic designer to help you capture your brewery’s brand identity.

Ready to make the best first impression? Contact us today about quality, cost-effective beer labels for your brewery.

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Dos and Don’ts for Non-Alcoholic Beer Labels

Even non-alcoholic malt beverages can still get you in hot water with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

As with standard beer, there are several labeling regulations for malt beverages that contain 0.5 percent alcohol by volume or less. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer laws have some regulatory crossover, but it’s important not to follow all the same labeling rules for your less boozy beverages. Let’s break down some key differences that will impact your non-alcoholic beer labels.

Don’t Call Your Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage “Beer”

Some people may informally call non-alcoholic malt beverages “beer,” but federal regulators certainly do not. The TTB defines beer as a beverage that contains “one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume, brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part, or from any substitute for malt.”

Even if your product is produced from malt and contains 0.5 percent alcohol or less, it would instead be considered a “cereal beverage.” Because of these definitions, non-alcoholic beverages cannot be legally labeled as beer. Your label also cannot reference any other class or designation types associated with beer. These include, but are not limited to:

Stout
Lager
Ale
Porter
Malt liquor

A bunch of non alcoholic malt beverage labels on cans.

Do Use the Correct Class Designations for Non-Alcoholic Beverages

While you can’t label your non-alcoholic drinks as beer, you still need a class designation for your labels. There are a few different terms for products containing less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume.

Malt beverage
Cereal beverage
Near beer

According to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulation (27 CFR 7.24), these words must all appear on the same label panel (no splitting the words between different backgrounds). Additionally, they must be in the same size, style of type, and color of ink.

Don’t Mix up Regulations for “Non-Alcoholic” and “Alcohol Free” Statements

Even if your product is non-alcoholic by definition, you still need an alcohol content statement. This statement operates a little differently than regular beer labels that must list the exact alcohol content to the nearest 0.1 percent. However, the exact rules depend on whether your beer is non-alcoholic or alcohol free.

Non-Alcoholic

While the term non-alcoholic may sound like there’s no alcohol in your beverage, it technically applies to drinks with an ABV of less than 0.5 percent. You are allowed to include the words “Non-Alcoholic” on your label as long as that same label also states “Contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.”

Alcohol Free

Any label that contains an alcohol content statement of 0.0 percent alcohol by volume must also state “alcohol free.” One catch here is that the TTB requires a laboratory sample analysis for formula approval per TTB G 2016-1A. As such, don’t be surprised to hear from the TTB if you submit a label making an alcohol free claim.

Do Include Specific Tax Language

Another quirk involving non-alcoholic malt beverages is that they aren’t subject the same taxes as their boozier cousins. Because of this, the TTB mandates that non-alcoholic malt beverages must add some special verbiage on their labels per 27 CFR 25.242. This statement should read “Non taxable under section 5051 I.R.C.”

Don’t Worry About the Government Warning

Typically, beer labels must include a health warning statement. Non-alcoholic beverages are not your typical beer (or by TTB definitions, not beer at all). Since the health warning statements are aimed to warn about the presence of alcohol, non-alcoholic drinks don’t need to include these statements on their labels.

Do Follow Additional FDA and TTB Regulations Beer Regulations

Non-alcoholic malt beverages have some different regulations from beer, but there are some requirements they do share. Certain details are mandatory for any type of malt beverage, whether it contains alcohol or not. These include, but are not limited to:

Brand names
Net contents
Name and address

The TTB is very specific when it comes to not only what you say on a label, but also how you present that information. As such, you’ll need to follow these guidelines to make sure you label is compliant with the TTB. For more information on these requirements, check out our post on TTB malt beverage label requirements.

Creative can labels for non alcoholic beers.

Don’t Skimp on Your Design

It’s no secret that there are a lot of regulatory information that dictates what you can and can’t put on your labels. However, there’s no rule against making your packaging look great.

Whether you need can wraps or bottle labels, it’s essential to make sure your products stand out from the crowd. The right splash of color or an eye-catching design is an essential part of any successful beer label, non-alcoholic or not. At Blue Label, we have the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance your designs.

Ready to invest in the quality, cost-effective labels for your non-alcoholic malt beverages. Contact us today to get the labels your products need to succeed.

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Hard Seltzer Labels: Breaking Down Potential Labeling Regulations

Following alcohol labeling regulations is already a tricky process. It gets even more complicated when you’re unsure which organization oversees the packaging requirements for your product.

Hard seltzers are an increasingly popular beverage for people across North America, but there are some potential problems when it comes to packaging these products. Namely, some hard seltzers fall under different regulatory guidelines than others. Let’s break down exactly why hard seltzers can follow different regulations and what those regulations are.

A collection of cans with hard seltzer labels that follow TTB label requirements.

Does Hard Seltzer Follow TTB or FDA Label Regulations?

The key to identifying which labeling guidelines apply to your hard seltzer depends on how the product is made. While the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) largely oversees labeling requirements for alcoholic beverages, there are some exceptions that fall within FDA jurisdiction: wines that contain less than seven percent alcohol by volume and beers that aren’t made from malted barley and hops.

What that means for hard seltzer labels is that the base of the beverages will dictate what specific regulations are followed. According to the TTB, hard seltzers made with either malt or sugar bases are considered “beer” products. This means that hard seltzers must follow federal beer laws and should display the following:

The name or trade name of the brewer
The net contents of the bottle
The nature of the product (ex. “beer” or “hard seltzer”)
The place of production
A health warning statement

However, those are not the only labeling requirements for hard seltzers. Malt-based hard seltzers are defined as “malt beverages.” As such, all hard seltzers must follow federal beer rules and additional TTB labeling laws. Meanwhile, sugar-based hard seltzers must instead follow certain FDA labeling rules.

The Differences Between TTB and FDA Regulations for Hard Seltzer Labels

In addition to the federal beer labeling rules, there are other rules that both malt and sugar-based hard seltzers must follow. Both types of hard seltzers must submit a Brewer’s Notice application with the TTB to qualify for production. Furthermore, the TTB must approve the product formula. However, there are some specific TTB and FDA regulations that apply to the different types of hard seltzers.

TTB label requirements for hard seltzers

There are several key elements that the TTB requires for any malt beverage label. Some of these elements are already required by federal beer laws, but the TTB adds on some additional items such as additional rules for class and type designations and disclosures for specific ingredients. The TTB also has specific rules for how each element should be displayed on malt beverage labels. For a detailed breakdown of these requirements, check out our post on TTB label requirements.

Another major difference for malt beverages is the need for a Certificate of Label Approval/Exemption (COLA). The TTB reviews every COLA whether it’s for a new product or if you make changes to your label. Malt-based hard seltzers will need the TTB to approve this COLA before you can sell your products.

FDA label requirements for hard seltzers

Typically, alcohol labels don’t have to disclose ingredients or nutritional information (although it is optional to do so). However, the FDA generally requires food and beverage products to include a nutrition facts panel and ingredients statement on labels. This mandate holds true for alcoholic products that happen to fall under FDA jurisdiction. As such, sugar-based hard seltzers must follow proper nutrition facts panel and ingredients statement protocol as found the FDA’s Food Labeling Guide.

Another big difference between the FDA and TTB is that the FDA doesn’t have a pre-market approval process. While this may sound like a more attractive scenario than submitting a COLA, no pre-approval can open hard seltzer labels up for potential penalties. The FDA will still review and pursue agency action if they discover any labeling issues, so you’ll need to make sure that your packaging is completely compliant before you go to market.

Don’t Skimp on Style for Your Hard Seltzer Labels

Whether your hard seltzers fall under TTB or FDA alcohol regulations, it’s important to make sure your packaging is compliant with existing standards. It’s also critical that your labels do all they can to impress potential customers.

When you need show-stopping hard seltzer labels, Blue Label Packaging can help. Our experts can help you bring your stunning designs to life, find cost-effective solutions that showcase the quality of your products. Contact us today to invest in the perfect labels for your hard seltzers.

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The Cost of Beer Labels: How Does Commercial Pricing Work for Professional Beer Labels?

When it comes time to invest in beer labels, there are a lot of questions you may want to ask your label printing company. Of these, there’s one particular question that every one wants to know: how much will professionally printed beer labels cost?

The immediate answer to that question is, it depends. There simply is no quick answer to how much beer labels cost because every project is so different. Instead, it’s important to have a general understanding of how commercial beer label pricing works and all the factors that can impact the cost of your project.

How Craft Beer Labels are Priced

The main reason why it’s tough to provide a quick custom beer label estimate is that each project is a custom process. Each order is manufactured from scratch, so there are no pre-made products to ‘save’ cost with. Every beer label features an original design and uses different materials per your specifications. At Blue Label, we rarely see a project cost less than $150 total (simply due to the costs associated with setting up equipment) and will scale up depending on your specifications.

Once you do get a beer label estimate, it’s also important to evaluate your investment in understandable numbers. While some people may want to break down cost on a price per unit basis, we find that it’s generally better in print to evaluate your label cost per thousand pieces. This perspective allows you to avoid the fractional cents in per unit costs and helps provide a clearer visual of the sliding scale in total cost. For instance:

A chart that break down beer label costs on a price per unit basis.

**Note: This chart does not reflect any pricing at Blue Label. For demonstration of pricing breakdown only**

So between 1,000 and 2,000, you can get twice the amount of labels for $61.40 more. The ‘Price per Thousand’ (sometimes notated as ‘Price per M’) category is intended to give a more clear ‘apples to apples’ comparison on items that have a small unit price.

The Factors That Impact Beer Label Costs for Craft Brewers

As a digital label printing company, we gather a lot of information to estimate the overall cost for your beer label project. There are multiple factors that can impact your costs. These factors include:

Product type
Material
Size
Quantity
Multiple versions
Lamination / varnish
Tooling
Decoration
Application
Variable content

Product type

The very first step in the pricing process is to determine what you want to accomplish with your beer labels. Depending on your product, design, and environment, you may be in the market for pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, double sided labels, or hang tags.

For example, shrink sleeves have a special production process and may require certain quantities to help maximize your invest in them. Meanwhile, pressure sensitive labels have a multitude of material options and decorating capabilities that can be applied to them. Our experts can offer advice on which label type is ideal for your brewery.

Material

Your label material of choice is going to be a notable contributor to your overall label costs. Each label is made with multiple layers that include a top layer (face stock) , an adhesive, and a liner. Some label materials will cost more per linear foot than others, so a more expensive material will lead to overall higher project costs.

When it comes to beer labels, there are two main types of material options: film and stock paper. Films for pressure sensitive labels are a natural choice as they’re more resistant to fluids.

Paper materials can provide a distinct look for beer containers, but can be two to five times more expensive than standard semigloss or white BOPP films. Given that materials make up a significant percentage of your total beer label costs, that distinctive paper material could lead to a cost increase of up to 40 percent overall.

An assortment of materials used for professional beer labels.

Size

The overall size of your label is another major factor for beer label costs. Label size dictates how much material is required. Simply put, the more material we use, the more expensive your label project will be. As such, larger labels can cost more than smaller labels from a raw materials standpoint.

Print layout is also another major factor that can influence label sizing costs. Label materials come in long rolls that are fed through a machine that prints your design onto the face stock of the roll. Depending on the size of your design, you may be able to fit multiple labels across the width of the roll.

By fitting more labels on a roll, you can improve printing efficiency and limit label material waste. This amount of material waste isn’t too noticeable in smaller orders, but a 20 percent difference in material costs is a noticeable change for larger quantities of labels.

Fortunately, there are measures you can take to help maximize space and minimize waste. Work with your designer and printing company to adjust the size of your label, especially if a fraction of an inch is the difference between a 15 to 30 percent bump in material costs. Our Beer Sizing and Dimensions Guide also includes optimal measurements for the most cost-effective sizing for printing your beer labels.

Quantity

The total number of labels printed in a project has a massive impact on your final project price. As expected, projects with higher label quantities will have a higher total cost simply because they consume more material. However, there is a potential for savings that isn’t as straightforward as you may expect.

While digital label printing allows breweries the flexibility to invest in lower quantities of beer labels, higher quantity runs can help you drive down your cost per thousand. Every project includes initial costs to set up the printer, calibrate colors, set up die cutting, and complete other tasks to start the manufacturing process.

Regardless of whether you need 200 or 200,000 labels, we have to go through those same processes. However, that setup time can be amortized much more efficiently over a long print run of labels, which means that higher quantities of labels actually drive down label costs.

While larger quantities can drive costs down, there are some potential cost advantages of buying lower numbers of beer labels. Digital label printing allows you to avoid the hidden costs of labels of obsolescence – regulation changes, brand updates, and other events that can make your beer labels outdated. That flexibility can be very valuable when you’re dealing with future events that could lead to unnecessary label waste.

Multiple versions

One notable cost factor is the ability to group multiple label versions together in a single project. While plate-based printing will require added fees for each label version, digital label printing can group these different labels together as long as there are 500 copies of each.

Maybe you don’t can 50,000 of one flagship… but maybe you do can 10,000 of your top five beers and have some seasonal releases to add in as well. Instead of placing five separate orders of 10,000 labels, digital technology allows you to place one order of 50,000 labels to take advantage of the lower ‘per thousand’ unit cost. Since everything is done digitally, we have the ability to mix and match your various versions into one production run, which helps save on setup and minimize waste.

Lamination / varnish

Every beer label needs some form of print protection. The average beer label is going to face several potential issues. Fluids like water and beer can wreak havoc with paper labels. Shipping and handling can rub off ink without a laminate or varnish layer.

Standard laminates and varnishes aren’t an additional cost, as much as they are something that’s baked into your starting project price. Every film label project is made with some form of laminate, while wine stock papers will require a basic varnish. There are also decorative laminates and varnishes available as well for an additional cost. Finishes such as soft-touch or textured laminates can serve a dual role of protecting your beer labels while adding to the overall look and feel of your packaging.

Tooling costs

Beer label costs may also include tooling fees, but these can vary depending on your label design and how they’re printed. Older printing methods, like offset or flexographic printing, use unique sets of plates to create your beer labels. As such, you’ll need to pay for a new set of plates for every piece of artwork. Digital printing doesn’t require plates, which cuts out those costs and any additional lead time required to manufacture plates.

Custom label shapes can also add tooling costs. Specialized pieces of metal called dies are used to cut specific shapes out of label materials. While digital label printing companies often have a wide range of existing dies, specialty shapes may require a newly manufactured part.

Depending on the size and shape, a new die can cost around $200. Of course, that die will then be freely available for any future label runs. At Blue Label, we have dies for most standard beer sizes in-house and can provide them for no extra cost to our customers. Our Beer Sizing and Dimensions Guide can walk you through the options and provides visual aids.

Decoration

While your choice of material, label size, and total quantity are the three biggest factors for project price, label decoration can add some additional costs depending on your needs. These added features can enhance the look and feel of your beer labels, which can add to your overall price per thousand and lead times based on your desired decoration.

Digital finishing equipment can apply many different decorative elements to beer labels. Foil stamping presses special foils into your material to create a raised image that stands out from other labels. Embossing imprints a special pattern or image into the label material, creating a pattern that consumers can see and feel. Spot varnishes allow you to coat specific parts of your design to make those elements pop. Each of these finishes can help capture consumers’ attention for an added cost.

Application

Your application process can also impact the beer label pricing as well. Your exact application process determines a few different factors:

Roll size
Unwind
Liner

Applicators can require a specific roll size or “Max OD” (Maximum Outer-Diameter). Your application process can determine how big the roll is, which can require more rewinding. Smaller rolls will also require your printing company to break your labels down into more manageable quantities for your machinery. These efforts won’t make for large changes in price for most customers, but they’re another potential reason why you might see an uptick in beer label pricing.

The required unwind can also affect potential cost efficiencies. The unwind determines which edge of the label first comes off the roll. This unwind can change how your printer needs to position your labels during printing. Depending on the dimensions of your label, that new positioning can yield a more or less efficient print layout.

Certain applicating equipment may also require a specific type of label backing. The backing, also called a liner, is the bottom layer of a pressure sensitive label. Applicators have sensors that read the label gaps during application, but certain sensors may only be able to read paper or film liners. As such, you may need to invest in a film liner which could slightly increase your project price if your applicator requires it.

Variable content

Variable data printing is another way that digital label printing allows you to change certain elements in a design without having to create entire new art files. Essentially, variable data printing utilizes a spreadsheet or some other file format to modify a variety of design elements, such as a headline, image, name, or color. Variable data printing can also incorporate variable images and patterns, allowing you to alternate or serialize label designs.

Variable data is a very useful tool for batch numbering, product tracking, or creating individualized items. It does require a good deal of setup and administration, so adding variable data printing to a label can increase costs.

Beer can labels made with a film material, print protection, and other factors that impact beer label costs.

Added Value Opportunities for Beer Labels

While there are several factors that can add to your overall project price, it’s important to also identify potential value opportunities as well. There are a lot of services that won’t show up on your bill, but can make a massive difference for your company. Each of the following factors can not only help your business save time and money, but also spare you from avoidable headaches when it’s time to invest in beer labels.

Artwork prep and readiness

Every beer label starts off as an art file before it’s printed. Unfortunately, there are a litany of artwork issues that can pose problems for your labels. Common concerns like incorrect file formats, low-res images, and improperly built bleeds will lead to problems with printed products without prior attention.

The level of artwork assistance depends on the label printing company. A lot of printers will charge you for that time to make sure your art is ready. Others will provide artwork prep for free and guide you through the printing process from start to finish.

Label printers can also provide press proofs for a small fee so that you have a physical example of your product before investing in the full run. Artwork can translate very differently from a computer screen to printed product. Though they might add a little time and money in the short term, artwork prep and press proofs can help avoid costly errors or artwork issues on a full production run.

Shipping and turnaround times

While shipping isn’t a part of the label production process, it’s important to keep it in mind for your overall label costs. You’ll want to examine the turnaround times and whether or not there will be any additional charges if you need your beer labels sooner than the standard turn-time and standard shipping propose. Blue Label commits to five-business day turnarounds, but others may tack on rush fees that range from $100 to $350 depending on how quickly you need your beer labels.

Customer service and satisfaction guarantees

We don’t live in a perfect world. At some point you will inevitably run into an issue, be it a misspelling in the artwork or color not translating properly. If these issues occur, it’s important to find a label printing partner that won’t leave you stranded with faulty packaging.

A good quality department won’t change your beer label bill, but it’s priceless when you do run into any issues. Evaluate potential printing companies to see if they have any warranties and satisfaction guarantees to make sure you’re not stuck with an improper print job. You’ll want to talk to a live, friendly label expert whenever you call with any questions or concerns. If a potential label printer limits access to real people, they might not be there when you do have any issues.

Internal resources

Customer service representatives aren’t the only resources that can help you out with your beer label project. Some label printing companies offer additional internal resources that can help add value without increasing the costs of your beer label.

For example, Blue Label has several helpful blog posts, resources, and guides available online to help you prepare your labels for success. In addition, our designer directory can help you find a designer who understands the intricacies of the beer market and can create the perfect custom beer label design for your products.

A custom label design made with commercial beer label pricing.

What Breweries Can Do to Help Control Beer Label Costs

Proper packaging is an important investment for any brewery. Unfortunately, there are scenarios where you may end up paying more for your labels than necessary. Situations such as last-minute orders or unforeseen problems can lead to extra charges or delayed shipments.

The best way to avoid these issues and control your beer label costs is to prepare early. The sooner you start talking with a label printing company about your needs, the better. This head start will allow you and the printing company to identify any potential issues, avoid expedited shipping, and have everything ready to go for when you actually need your beer labels. You can also ask for test rolls to ensure that your labels work with your applicating equipment ahead of time instead of troubleshooting problems at the last minute.

Order your labels ahead of time. As long as they are properly stored, label adhesives won’t lose effectiveness for several months. Because of this, you can have your labels shipped to you a week ahead of when your applicator arrives and stil be good to go. This will give you plenty of leeway and a lot less stress when it’s time to label your beer bottles or cans.

Finally, the best way to help you invest in the perfect beer labels for your products is to work with the right label printing company. At Blue Label, we promise to deliver unmatched quality and service to help you create the best, most cost-effective beer labels for your exact needs. Contact us today to talk about your next beer label project.

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TTB Beer Label Requirements: 8 Elements You Need on Craft Beer Labels

The process of putting together a craft beer label can be as complex as brewing the beverage itself. Your beer labels need to not only capture the quality and personality of your products, but also meet any mandatory Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) label requirements. These requirements play a pivotal role in TTB labeling approval before your product can be sold to consumers. Let’s break down what your beers need to maintain TTB label compliance.

The 8 TTB Requirements for Beer Labels

There are eight key elements that must be included on any beer label. Some of these elements are mandatory for every malt beverage, while others may apply to only certain situations. These label elements are:

Brand name
Class and type designation
Name and address
Net contents
Alcohol content
Disclosures for specific ingredients
Health warning statement
Country of origin

Each of these elements has their own specific labeling guidelines. One typical labeling regulation is to meet specific placement and legibility rules. Each element should meet the following beer label requirements unless specifically noted below.

Appear on the front of your container.
Use a minimum type size of 2 mm for containers larger than ½ pint or 1 mm for containers of ½ pint or less.
Appear on a contrasting background.
Appear separate and apart from or be substantially more conspicuous than descriptive or explanatory information.

In addition to placement and legibility, there are several other standards you need to follow for each label element. Let’s break down each of these elements and what you need to know about their TTB label requirements.

A trio of beer bottle labels with net contents and other TTB label requirements.

Brand name

The first piece of information that any beer label should have is a brand name. This piece of information is typically the most prominent piece of information on your label and should reflect the name that you use to market your beer. If your beer doesn’t happen to be sold under a brand name, the name of the bottler or packer, importer is used as a de facto brand name instead.

In addition, your brand name must not be misleading. By TTB standards, that means that your brand name should describe “the age, origin, identity, or other characteristics of the malt beverage.” There are a few exceptions to this rule:

The brand name accurately describes the malt beverage and doesn’t create an erroneous impression about your malt beverage.
Your label includes a statement that dispels any erroneous impression created by the brand name.
Your brand name is qualified with the word “BRAND.”

Class and type designation

Every beer label needs to clearly display the specific identity of what’s contained in the can or bottle. Simply put, it needs to tell consumers what type of malt beverage you made.

These designations are based on characteristics generally attributed to the particular class or type of malt beverage. These designations can range from something as general as “malt beverage” to a very specific type of beer like “imperial stout.” For definitions and general descriptions of different classes and types of malt beverages, please refer to Chapter 4 of the TTB’s Beverage Alcohol Manual.

Name and address of producer/bottler or packer

The TTB mandates that every malt beverage label includes both the name and address of the entity that produces, bottles, packs, or imports your products. Domestic malt beverages may include an appropriate explanatory phrase before the name, while imported products must add some more detail). These can include the following:

For domestic brewers (optional)
- “BREWED AND BOTTLED/PACKED BY”
- “BREWED BY”
- “BOTTLED/PACKED BY”
• For importers (mandatory)
- “IMPORTED BY”
- “SOLE AGENT”
- “SOLE U.S. AGENT”

For the name, you may use your company name, corporate name, or trade name. The key here is that your name must be identical to what is displayed on either your brewer’s notice for domestic malt beverages or basic permit for imported malt beverages.

As for the address, domestic products should include either the city and state where your malt beverage is bottled or packed or a principal place of business. Imported products are limited to their principal place of business. If you choose to use a principal place of business as a domestic malt beverage, that location must meet the following requirements.

The principal place of business address must be a location where production/bottling or packing operations occur.
The actual location (address) where the malt beverage is produced/bottled or packed must be indicated by printing, coding, or other markings on the label or container.
Prior to use, the brewer must file a notice explaining the coding system with the TTB’s National Revenue Center.

As with many other label elements, the name and address should be included on the front of your container. However, you also have the option to burn or brand these details somewhere visible on your containers for domestic malt beverages.

Net contents

While there are no standards of fill for malt beverages, the TTB does have requirements for the way you list net contents. Every container must list net contents in American measurements, but you may also include metric measurements as well. The TTB also has specific standards for how these measurements are presented.

Containers with less than 1 pint – the net contents must be shown in fluid ounces or fractions of a pint.
Containers with an exact number of net contents (ex. 1 pint, 1 quart, or 1 gallon) – the net contents must be shown exactly that way.
Containers with more than 1 pint but less than 1 quart – the net contents must be shown in pints and fluid ounces or fractions of a quart.
Containers with more than 1 quart but less than 1 gallon – the net contents must be shown in quarts, pints, and fluid ounces or fractions of a gallon.
Containers with more than 1 gallon – the net contents must be shown in gallons and fractions thereof.

As with names and addresses, you also have the option to burn or brand net contents into the container itself. If not, they must be placed on the front of the container’s label.

Alcohol content

Unlike many of the other elements, statements of alcohol content are optional unless your state’s law either mandates or prohibits this action. Whether these statements are required label elements or added optionally, the TTB does set specific standards for how alcohol content is presented.

Unless your state’s laws set a different standard, statement of alcohol should be expressed in percent by volume. The exact alcohol content must be listed to the nearest 0.1 percent for any malt beverages with 0.5 percent alcohol by volume or more (with a tolerance of plus or minus 0.3 percent). If your product has less than .05 percent alcohol by volume, your statement should be accurate to the nearest 0.01 percent. These statements should also be presented in one of the following formats.

“ALCOHOL (ALC) __% BY VOLUME (VOL)”
“ALCOHOL (ALC) BY VOLUME (VOL) __%”
“ __% ALCOHOL (ALC) BY VOLUME (VOL)”
“ __% ALCOHOL (ALC)/VOLUME (VOL)”

In terms of legibility and placement, the alcohol statement has a few additional standards to note. Unlike other label elements, the alcohol statement can be placed on the front, back, or side of your container. The entirety of your alcohol statement should be in prominent coloring and use the same kind and size of lettering. The type size also depends on the net contents of your container.

Minimum 2 mm type for containers larger than ½ pint
Minimum 1 mm type for containers of ½ pint or less
Maximum 3 mm type for containers of 40 fl. oz. or less
Maximum 4 mm type for containers larger than 40 fl. oz.

Disclosures for specific ingredients

Beer labels can require disclosures for certain ingredients if they appear in your malt beverage. Each ingredient requires a separate statement to make its presence clear to any consumers. These are the four different ingredients and their required statements:

FD&C Yellow No. 5 – “Contains FD&C Yellow #5”
Saccharin – “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.”
Sulfite (if 10 or more parts per million sulfur dioxide) – “Contains sulfites” or “Contains (a) sulfiting agent(s)”
Aspartame – “PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.” (note: this disclosure must be in all capital letters)

A beer can with a prominent government warning.

Health warning statement

Every beer label should include a health warning statement if the malt beverage in question contains at least 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. The statement in question must appear as a continuous paragraph and start with the words “GOVERNMENT WARNING” in bold, capital letters. The statement in full should appear as follows.

GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

This statement may appear on the front, side, or back of the container. The statement’s type size and maximum number of characters per inch depends on the net contents of the container.

Minimum 3 mm for containers larger than 3 liters (101 fl. oz.)
- No more than 12 characters per inch
Minimum 2 mm for containers larger than 237 ml (8 fl. oz.) to 3 liters (101 fl. oz.)
- No more than 25 characters per inch
Minimum 1 mm for containers of 237 ml (8 fl. oz.) or less
- No more than 40 characters per inch

Country of origin

If your malt beverage is imported, your label must include some form of statement indicating its country of origin. There are four formats you can use for this statement:

“PRODUCT/PRODUCE OF [name of country]”
“PRODUCED/BREWED IN” or “PRODUCED/BREWED AND BOTTLED OR PACKED IN [name of country]”
“PRODUCED/BREWED BY” or “PRODUCED/BREWED AND BOTTLED OR PACKED BY [name of brewer and/or both brewer and bottler/packer along with either the country or both city and country]”
“___________ ALE” (Fill in blank with name of country in which ale was produced/brewed), i.e., name of country with class and/or class and type designation

Unlike other beer label elements, the country of origin does not need to follow any specific legibility and type size requirements. Your statement may also appear anywhere on the front, side, or back of your container.

Invest in TTB Compliant Craft Beer Labels that Don’t Skimp on Style

There’s a whole lot of information that the TTB requires for beer labels, but that doesn’t mean that these elements need to hold back your design. Fortunately, the right label printing company can turn your initial design into a stunning final product.

When you need stunning beer labels that fit your budget, Blue Label Packaging can help provide pristine packaging for your products. Our team has the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to enhance your label designs and capture attention. Contact us today to talk about your next beer label project.

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How to Use Color Effectively in Beer Label Design: 5 Key Factors

When you only have a few seconds to catch a consumer’s eye, it’s imperative that your beer label is on point. Creative, compelling color choices can make your beers stand out among the competition. However, those same colors can pose problems if you’re not careful. Here are five ways that you can use colors to get the most out of your beer labels.

Create the Right Impression

Your color choices play a vital role in beer label design. The colors you use not only allow you to create a recognizable brand for all your different brews, but also influence consumers’ emotions through positive association.

You’ll want to identify what type of feeling you want to convey with each product label. For example, you may utilize soothing blues for a smooth lager that’s perfect for a nice, relaxing time on the porch. Meanwhile a dark grey or black can create an air of elegance and class for a high-end imperial stout. Your label is an opportunity to show your beer’s character, and a good color scheme will do just that.

A trio of cans with colorful beer labels.

Don’t Drown Out Your Brand

Whether you want to establish your products as playful, classy, or something else, it’s important to make sure that your color scheme works with your brand. Exciting color combinations are fun, but consumers should be able to identify your brand with each container. Because of this, you’ll want to practice some caution when designing labels for each product.

A big part of beer branding is your logo. You’ll need to decide whether you want your logo to stay the same for every product or modify it to match different color choices. If you choose the former, it’s good practice to make sure your beer can branding and logo won’t clash with your preferred product pigments. If it’s the latter, you’ll just want to ensure that people can still instantly recognize your brand, even if your logo changes colors or versions. Remember, you want your product to stand out, but you don’t want to hide who you are.

Mix and Match Colors Appropriately

Identifying the right colors is a delicate balancing act. Picking and choosing an array of colors that make sense for your various beers without having them clash, create legibility concerns, or cause other brand issues are just a few of the balls you juggle..

There are a couple of different routes you can go with color selection. One method is to focus on contrasts to help emphasize various label elements. This can help make your label visually “pop” to consumers, especially if you use it to highlight a certain aspect of your label. A color wheel can help you identify opposite colors that still work with each other. A second option is to stick with analogous colors that easily flow together. These colors line up next to each other in the color wheel and create a more relaxed feel for your label.

Regardless of which route you choose – or if you opt for a hybrid of the two – it’s important to make sure that people can read your labels. Certain colors may look great together, but dark-on-dark or light-on-light combinations can cause legibility concerns. Try and use some form of contrasting colors for backgrounds and text to make sure the words on your label don’t go to waste.

Beer can label designs using contrasting colors.

Consider the Container

Your beer label plays a critical role in product packaging, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Your container can have a major impact in the overall look of your product. For example, one label design may work wonderfully on a clear glass bottle, but could clash with a brown one.

Certain colors schemes may work better for some containers than others, so make sure you consider how your design plays with your cans or bottles. Depending on your container, you may simply opt for a shrink sleeve for complete coverage or a clear label that uses splashes of colors to accentuate your packaging. When done well, your container can even complement your label colors, making your beers look more appealing than before.

Maximize Your Materials

Ink isn’t the only way to create colorful combinations. There are a variety of paper and film label materials that can add a new dimension to your desired color scheme. A black vellum label would be a stunning way to create an elegant background for a high-end beer. Clear labels can help you emphasize your container (or even what’s inside your container). Meanwhile, a holographic film can create a fun contrast to add some glitz and glam to a beer can.

A beer bottle label with a colorful design.

Color Your Customers Impressed with Stunning Beer Labels

In such a competitive market, pristine packaging can put your products on a pedestal. Stunning beer labels start with a stellar design, but it takes the right printing company to turn your vision into a reality.

When you need quality, cost-effective beer labels, Blue Label Packaging can help. Our team has the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to help you enhance your designs. Contact us today to talk about your beer labels.

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What are Can Wraps?

Simply put, a can wrap is a form of covering for beer cans and other similar containers. However, the exact meaning of can wrap can differ depending on the intended use.

For some people, a can wrap is an extra covering used to personalize a can or change the exterior of the can from its original appearance. For others, a can wrap is the main label used for a can. In this case, you have a few different options for your can wraps and tin can labels.

Types of Can Wrap Labels

If you’re looking to brand your products with custom can wraps, there are two main routes you can go: Pressure sensitive labels or shrink sleeves.

Pressure sensitive can wraps

Pressure sensitive labels are comprised of multiple layers that are married together prior to application. These layers include:

Liner – A backing material typically made of paper or plastic film. This liner is the base of the can wrap and is removed to expose the adhesive during application.
Release coat – A special coating applied to the top surface of the liner. This release coat allows the liner to easily peel away from the adhesive layer during application.
Adhesive – The adhesive used to hold the label to your can. There are multiple types of adhesives available for pressure sensitive can wraps.
Face stock – The label material used for the construction of the can wrap that consumers will see. There are many different types of can wrap materials available, including various films and papers.
Top coat – The top layer of your can wrap. This top coat is typically a laminate, a special coating, or some other solution to give the can wrap a finished look and protect it from damage.

Pressure sensitive can wraps are printed and delivered in roll form. These wraps are then applied to your cans when the liner is removed and pressure is applied to form a bond between the label and your container.

Beer cans with a pressure sensitive can wrap.

Shrink sleeve can wraps

Unlike pressure sensitive can wraps, shrink sleeves utilize a special film sleeve to adhere to your cans. These sleeves are shrunk with steam or heat to conform to the shape of your can. The beer can sleeving process offers a few advantages:

360-degree designs
Form fitting sleeves that highlight custom shapes
Extra design protection

A key difference with shrink sleeves is that, as the name implies, they come in sleeves where the ink is printed on the inside of the label instead of on the face stock. This method adds an extra layer of protection for your label design. However, shrink sleeves will need to be pre-distorted to accommodate the shape of your container when your sleeves are shrunk. Shrink sleeves are also more delicate than pressure sensitive can wraps. Both improper handling and excess temperature and humidity can cause distortion.

Beer cans with a shrink sleeve can wrap going through a filling line.

Identify the Right Can Wraps for Your Containers

Whether you want pressure sensitive labels or shrink sleeves, a good can wrap will make a world of difference for your brand. Of course, there are still plenty of steps required to figure out the right solution for your cans. At Blue Label, our experts work directly with your business to identify the right materials, adhesives, and design considerations to protect your containers and beer can wraps and maximize the appeal of your product.

Ready to invest in quality, cost-effective custom beer can wraps for your business? Contact us today to talk about your labeling and label printing needs.

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Hand Sanitizer Labels: Tips for Distilleries and Breweries

With hand sanitizer at a premium, more and more distilleries and breweries are pitching in to help fill that gap. If you’re considering doing the same, it’s important to have some resources to not only follow regulatory guidelines, but also follow the best, most cost-effective way to label these products. To help, we’ve put together a breakdown on must-follow FDA guidelines and some tips to help you keep your labeling costs down.

FDA Requirements for Hand Sanitizer Production

As you may expect with alcohol, there are some regulations to consider when manufacturing and labeling hand sanitizer. First, you’ll need to register with the FDA since hand santizer counts as an over-the-counter drug. Then you must follow the FDA’s guidelines for manufacturing and labeling your hand sanitizers. The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) lays out some guidelines you need to know if you plan to make hand sanitizer.

Denature the ethanol used when manufacturing hand sanitizer (no exceptions)
Label according to Appendices A-D of the FDA temporary policy depending on application and include:
- A batch number
- Your company name and contact info (the FDA does not intend to take action against manufacturers that ordered or printed labels without this information prior to their guidelines)
Make the ethanol that is the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in hand sanitizer using the same fermentation and distillation processes used for consumable goods (Alcohol from synthetic processes is used only if it meets USP or FCC grade)
Label the ethanol API as either denatured or undenatured as shown in Appendix A and B of the applicable guidance
Keep a record of key steps and controls for batches
Verify and document the final alcohol content of sanitizer using the best methods available at the manufacturer (WHO guidance tolerance 75-85 percent abv for ethanol)
Create an adverse event reporting process

If you have any questions regarding denaturing, formulas, or other key details, please refer to the ACSA’s updated list of FAQs on hand sanitizer production.

Hand sanitizer bottle labels made for Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.

Image courtesy of Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.

Tips to Keep Label Costs Down

Once your hand sanitizer is ready, it’s time to bottle and label it. Of course, packaging affects your bottom line, especially if you’re providing hand sanitizer at cost or giving it away to medical personnel, first responders, and people in need.

While we may not be experts on brewing or distilling, we do know our way around labels. Here’s what you can do to save on your hand sanitizer labels.

Opt for simple, cost-effective materials

There are a lot of label materials available for different aesthetics. However, fancy wine stocks or other options aren’t necessary if you’re looking for something simple and durable. For cost-effective hand sanitizers, a white biaxially oriented polypropelyne (BOPP) material with a matte laminate will do the trick. If you don’t want a classic white, a material with the same adhesive is available in clear or silver with either gloss or matte laminates.

In addition to color, you’ll also want to figure out which material works with your specific container. While the aforementioned bopp would work out well for a small, rigid bottle, a squeeze bottle or a larger container might create problems. For these types of containers, we could use an MDO material to accommodate for size and needed durability.

Limit the size of your label

You don’t need a big label to make a big impact. Opting for a smaller label will help cut down on the total amount of material necessary and cut down costs. You’ll want to base your label size off your container of choice – one label size might be right for a small squeeze bottle, but not for a larger glass one. As with label materials, we can work with you to identify a label size that works with your exact container without adding too much to your overall cost.

Use black ink

When you want simple, cost-effective labels, black and white is a good way to go. A simple black ink will cut out added costs associated with multiple inks or color matching, giving you more bang for your buck if you’re aiming for simplicity.

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If you’re in need of hand sanitizer labels, we’re here to help. Contact us today if you have any questions about and our team can be a resource to provide answers and support your project.