Back to all

The Shelf Life of Labels: 6 Factors That Impact How Long Your Labels Last

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your product labels. Even the most attractive packaging can lose its luster over time, whether it’s because of a preventable accident or an unavoidable change. Damaged or outdated labels won’t help your business, so it’s important to know the factors that can impact the lifespan of your labels so that you make sure you get the most out of your investment.

Sunlight

You may enjoy a sunny day, but long-term exposure to the sun is a problem for your labels. Ultraviolet rays break down the chemical bonds found in inks over time, which essentially has a bleaching effect. As a result, exposure to sunlight causes your label designs to fade.

While you can’t completely protect you labels from sunlight, you can delay its effects. Label laminates and UV coatings add a layer of protection that lessens the effect of sunlight, like how sunscreen shields skin. While fading will still occur over time, these solutions notably slow down the process so your labels stay vibrant for as long as possible.

Bottle labels protected from sunlight by a UV coating.

Water and Other Fluids

Paper labels don’t play well with water, which is a serious problem for any labels that are refrigerated, encounter water during the application process, or interact with any other slippery situations. Even paper stocks with higher wet strength will absorb water and other fluids over time. This can cause them to distort and even fall off eventually. For this reason, it’s strongly suggested to use film stocks and laminates for any labels that need some degree of water resistance.

Scuffs and Scratches

The quality of your product packaging says a lot about your goods. A big scratch or scuff on your labels won’t send the right message to potential customers. Instead of dealing with damage when it happens, there are ways to shield your labels from unwanted friction that can occurs during shipping and handling. Laminates and varnishes add a layer of protection so that your product labels can endure more wear and tear and customers pay attention to your branding instead of unsightly damage.

Adhesive Material

No company wants to get stuck with labels that don’t stick to its products. There are a variety of factors that can impact the long-term success of a label adhesive. Some adhesives are better suited for use with water, whether it’s for a product that’ll sit in a steamy bathroom or get submerged in a cooler full of ice. Sometimes the containers you use are better suited for a strong acrylic-based adhesive. No matter the environment, it’s important to work with a label expert who can identify which adhesive makes sense for your products.

Label Regulation Changes

Depending on your product, you’re not the only person who has a say in what goes on your label. Various government organizations have specific compliance standards for a wide range of products, covering everything from food and drink to beauty products and vape juice. These regulations can change over time, which means what were once completely compliant cannabis product labels could become obsolete after new legislation. As a result, it’s important to stay up to date on label compliance and to work with a label printing company that provides order flexibility.

Rebrands or Other Label Changes

Change isn’t always an unexpected development. At some point, you may decide that your business is due for a rebrand, or you may simply refresh your product label designs. In this case, you’ll need to transition from your old labels to new ones to show off your new logo, color scheme, or other design change you’ve made to the aesthetic of your packaging. Fortunately, you can plan for these changes and work with a printing company to have new, eye-catching labels ready when it’s time to update your labels.

Three variations of a product labels with different materials and varnishes.

Prepare for the Future with Long-Lasting, Durable Labels

Whether you need to guard your packaging or prepare for the unknown, it’s important to work with the right printing company to get the most out of your labels. Thanks to an investment in state-of the art digital label printing equipment and technology, Blue Label offers both protective label capabilities and order flexibility to help you prepare for long after your product labels go out to market.

If you need quality, cost-effective product labels that are made to last, we can help. Contact Blue Label today to talk to one of our experts about how we can help you get the most out of your durable labels.

Back to all

How to Protect Your Bottle Labels: Laminates vs. Varnishes

After making an investment in new bottle labels, the last thing you want is something to scratch them up or tarnish them. A damaged label is bad for your brand image, but there are ways that you can proactively protect your designs through label lamination and varnishes.

Do I Really Need a Protective Coating for My Bottle Labels?

There is no set rule that you must add a laminate or varnish to your custom bottle labels, but we strongly recommend that you do so. If you choose to go without any protective coating or lamination, you run the risk that something could scratch the ink or moisture could compromise your label, depending on the material of your label.

Without something to protect the ink, any form of friction could damage your design. For example, some distilleries decide against laminates or varnishes because it gives their paper bottle labels a rustic, unfinished look. When those bottles are shipped, they tend to rub up against the cardboard and other bottles. Those attractive labels won’t look nearly as good thanks to scuffs, scratches, and other preventable damage.

There are also other factors that can impact your label. Water and other liquids can wreak havoc on unprotected materials, which is especially problematic for certain bottles. Laminates and UV coatings can also protect ink from the sun and other outdoor elements.

A product label with a spot varnish.

What’s the Best Option to Protect My Bottle Label?

While laminates and varnishes both offer protective capabilities, they have some key differences that may make one a better option than the other for your packaging. In fact, there are ways that you can utilize both laminates and varnishes. The answer to which protective solution is right depends on a few factors.

How much label protection do you need?

Both options will help protect your label, but a laminate offers a greater level of protection than a varnish. A laminate is a separate film that adheres over top of your label, while a varnish is a clear resin that’s applied then cured. This means a laminate allows you to build additional layers of protection instead of reinforcing your existing material, which is good for bottles that may end up in a cooler or other potentially damaging environments.

Do you want to take advantage of decorative effects?

Of the two options, varnish offers you more decorative bang for your buck. There are various types of laminates, such as gloss, semigloss, and matte films, but varnish can help you enhance your design to a greater effect. A spot varnish can apply resin to a very specific part of your label, such as your logo or a specific element of your design to create contrast with the rest of the material. You can even apply a spot varnish on top of a laminate if you want to maximize protection and decoration.

Which label material will you use?

Your label material can play a part in your protection options. If you’re using a synthetic material like a BOPP or plastic-based material, we strongly recommend that you use a laminate. While paper naturally has a grit to it that allows ink to soak into the material, film facestocks are so smooth that the ink lays on top of the material. As a result, the extra layer provided by a laminate is very valuable.

Are there any cost advantages?

The price difference between laminates and varnishes in minimal unless you plan to invest in a large run of labels. In that case, laminates are a bit more cost effective.

Bottle labels being printed with a protective laminate.

Protect Your Custom Labels

Your label can make a good first impression, but an unwanted scuff isn’t going to do you any favors. At Blue Label, we work with you to make sure that your labels a perfect for your needs, both in terms of performance and aesthetic. Contact us today to talk to one of our experts about printing quality, eye-catching labels for your products.

Back to all

How Light Can Impact the Way Customers See Your Product Labels

The right color palette is an important part of any product label. Between maintaining a recognizable brand and using color psychology, designers work hard to determine which color or colors will help attract a targeted audience. Unfortunately, one easily overlooked detail can derail the perfect design: light.
(more…)

Back to all

Designing Beer Labels: Colors and Special Printing Capabilities

The right splash of color or an eye-catching feature can be the key to a successful beer label. Of course, the challenge for a designer is to try and figure out which colors or features make the most sense for the product. Whether you’re trying to decide on the right colors or a special printing capability, here’s what you need to consider.
(more…)