What Is Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and Why Is It Good For Product Labels?
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Choosing a label for your packaging is a big deal. You need something that sticks out, but also sticks on. Enter biaxially oriented polypropylene, or BOPP for short.
It’s a to-go choice for several food and beverage, beauty, household, and even medical equipment brands. But is it the right choice for your products? Let’s walk through the benefits of BOPP, its applications, options, pricing, and customizability.
Understanding BOPP
Considering how commonly it’s used, you’ve probably passed by BOPP labels a million times at the store. BOPP is a type of plastic film commonly used for product labels. In simple terms, it’s a durable, clear material that’s been stretched in two directions during manufacturing. This stretching process enhances its strength and clarity.
Benefits of Choosing BOPP Labels
Ask a brand using BOPP for their product labels why they prefer it, and they’ll tell you it’s highly versatile. These are some of the benefits that make BOPP the perfect fit for product labels.
BOPP is Durable
Many packaging and labeling professionals consider BOPP to be one of the most durable label options available. It’s not susceptible to common problems affecting different labels like peeling, wrinkling, and lifting. Whether you use them on jars, bottles, or tubes, BOPP can last a long time.
BOPP is Resistant to Moisture, UV Light, and Oil
Because BOPP labels are durable and made from plastic, they can resist most types of liquids. Something spills or splashes on your label? It won’t smear the writing on the label if you’re using BOPP.
Meanwhile, BOPP’s moisture and solvent resistant qualities make it a great choice for household products people keep in their bathrooms and kitchens. BOPP is also acid resistant, which makes it suitable for food and beverage product packaging. You won’t have to worry about products containing tomatoes, coffee, condiments, or citrus, which have a low pH content, degrading or discoloring your BOPP labels.
BOPP Labels are Ideal for Printing
The polymer film used for making BOPP labels accepts both water and solvent-based inks, giving you more options when choosing effects for your labels. Ink adheres well to BOPP because it goes through several treatment steps to improve its printability. The final treatment also improves the ink’s ability to stick to the label material.
BOPP is Flexible
Another interesting aspect of BOPP is its flexibility, which makes it easy to apply on rounded and flat surfaces with ease. And since it’s very thin, BOPP labels can look as though they’re directly printed onto their container.
BOPP Applies to Glass, Plastic, and Metal
BOPP is compatible with all types of packaging containers commonly used for consumer goods. From metal cans and glass jars to plastic containers, the right combination of BOPP film and adhesive is sure to stick.
BOPP is Compatible with FDA Food Packaging Requirements
Food labels made from BOPP film are FDA compliant as long as they mention the following:
- A statement of identity
- Net quantity of contents
- List of ingredients
- Name of manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
BOPP labels designed and manufactured by companies like Blue Label Packaging meet FDA compliance standards for food packaging.
BOPP is an Affordable Label Choice
When it comes to cost, BOPP is more affordable than options like PET, while giving you the same level of durability and moisture resistance. While paper labels are cheaper to produce, they might not last as long, making BOPP a cost-efficient alternative.
Different BOPP Label Options
You don’t have to settle for a simple, generic label when you choose BOPP film. Here are some of your available BOPP label options:
White BOPP Labels
Though BOPP film labels come in different options, white is the most common choice. It’s used in the health and beauty, personal care, and cosmetic industries. You’ll also see white BOPP labels on food products by companies looking to make their branding stand out.
Clear BOPP Labels
Transparent BOPP labels can give your product a sleek, no-label look, and is often used on beverages, household products, specialty foods, and cosmetic products. It has the same moisture resistant qualities of white BOPP, except that it’s almost invisible.
Silver And Gold BOPP Labels
For a more luxurious appearance, you can also choose silver or holographic BOPP product labels. These have the same capabilities as clear or white labels, but offer a metallic finish.
Squeezable BOPP Labels
BOPP-squeezable labels are made for product containers that contort with handling, like shampoo, condiment, and lotion bottles. They give you the flexibility, moisture resistance, and durability needed for products that take on frequent handling.
BOPP Label Applications
BOPP is a popular option for label materials—it offers impressive affordability and durability making it desirable for a wide range of products and industries.
Food And Beverage
Numerous food and beverage companies use BOPP labels because it’s waterproof, looks great, and is easy to read. It’s durable against acidic foods that might typically leave labels smeared or stained. The flexibility and thinness of BOPP labels make them easy to apply to round surfaces of food and beverage containers.
Health and Beauty
Packaging for health and beauty items like cosmetics require specific product information on the labels, so protecting against smudging, fading, and tearing is critical. These labels need to hold up in humid and damp environments. BOPP product labels are resistant to water from showers and sinks, oils that come off users’ hands, and the products inside them.
Choose BOPP Labels for Durable and Attractive Product Labeling Solutions
To sum it up, BOPP film is a versatile solution to labeling your products, whether you operate in the food and beverage, cosmetic, or household goods industry. It’s resistant to moisture, comes in various finishes, and is compatible with glass, metal, and plastic containers.
If you want to start printing BOPP film labels for your products, contact our team at Blue Label Packaging to request a quote.