Label - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Label#Products

Label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth,
metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is
written or printed information or symbols about the product or item.
Information printed directly on a container or article can also be
considered labeling.

Labels have many uses, including providing information on a product's

origin, manufacturer (e.g., brand name), use, shelf-life and disposal,
some or all of which may be governed by legislation such as that for
food in the UK[1] or United States.[2] Methods of production and
attachment to packaging are many and various and may also be subject
to internationally recognised standards. In many countries, hazardous
products such as poisons or flammable liquids must have a warning
label.
Shirt with labels

Contents
Uses
Products
Packaging
Assets
Textiles
Mailing
Specialized labels
A bunch of bananas with a label
Stock types
Attachment
Pressure-sensitive adhesive types
Application

Usability
Environmental considerations
Other aspects
Color
Collectability

See also
A label with faux embossing
References
Further reading
External links

Uses
Labels may be used for any combination of identification, information, warning, instructions for use,

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environmental advice or advertising. They may be stickers, permanent or

temporary labels or printed packaging.

Products
Permanent product identification by a label is commonplace; labels need to
remain secure throughout the life of the product. For example, a VIN plate on
an automobile must be resistant to heat, oils and tampering; similarly, a food
label must endure until the food has been used. Removable product labels
need to bond until they are removed. For example, a label on a new
refrigerator has installation, usage and environmental information: the label
needs to be able to be removed cleanly and easily from the unit once installed.

Labels for food and beverages typically include critical information pertinent
to the contents or ingredients used in a product, and may also call out to
certain allergy risks such as the presence of gluten or soy. The FDA also
provides standards to regulate the information provided on the labels and
Fire extinguisher with
packaging of wine and spirits. These labels include information like brand permanent and temporary
name, class and type designation, and alcohol content.[3] labels

Packaging
Packaging may have labeling attached to or integral with the package. These may carry pricing, barcodes, UPC
identification, usage guidance, addresses, advertising, recipes, and so on. They also may be used to help resist or
indicate tampering or pilferage.

Assets
In industrial or military environments, asset labeling is used to clearly identify assets for maintenance and
operational purposes. Such labels are frequently made of engraved Traffolyte or a similar material.[4] They are
usually tamper-evident, permanent or frangible and usually contain a barcode for electronic identification using
readers. For example, the US Military uses a UID system for its assets.

Textiles
Garments normally carry separate care/treatment labels which, in some regions, are subject to legislation.[5][6]
These labels typically indicate how the item should be washed (e.g., machine washed vs. dry cleaning), whether
bleach can be used. Textile labels may be woven into the garment or attached, and may be heat resistant (so
survivable in hot-air dryers and when pressed), colorfast (so does not bleed onto the garment), washable, leather or
PVC/Plastic. Printed labels are an alternative to woven labels. Some upholstered furniture and mattresses have
labels that are required by law, describing the contents of the stuffing.

Textiles containing pesticides as an ingredient may also require government approval and compulsory labeling. In
the USA, for example, labels have to state the pesticide registration number, statement of ingredients, storage and
disposal information, and the following statement: "It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner
inconsistent with its labeling”. A label including a company name or identification number and a material content
list may also be required.[7]

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Mailing
Mailing labels identify the addressee, the sender and any other information which may be useful in transit. Many
software packages such as word processor and contact manager programs produce standardized mailing labels
from a data set that comply with postal standards. These labels may also include routing barcodes and special
handling requirements to expedite delivery.

Specialized labels
Notebook labels are mainly used for identifying the owner and purpose of the notebook. Some information on
a label may include name, contents, and date started.
Piggyback labels are made from combining two layers of adhesive substrate. The bottom layer forms the
backing for the top. The label can be applied to any object as normal, the top layer can be a removable label
that can be applied elsewhere, which may change the message or marking on the remaining label underneath.
Often used on Express mail envelopes. Other applications include price change labels where when being
scanned at the till, the till assistant can peel back the price-reduction label and scan the original barcode
enabling stock flow management. These labels are also seen on magazine subscription renewals, allowing
customers to re-subscribe to the magazine with an easy peel and stick label sent back.[8] Also, as the retained
label is adhesive free it prevents customers from re-applying the cheaper priced labels to premium products.
Smart labels have RFID chips embedded under the label stock.
Blockout labels are not see-through at all, concealing what lies underneath with a strong gray adhesive.
Radioactive labels. The use of radioactive isotopes of chemical elements, such as carbon-14, to allow the in
vivo tracking of chemical compounds.
Laser or printer labels are generally die cut on 8.5" x 11" (US letter) or A4 sized sheets, and come in many
different shapes, sizes,[9] formats and materials. Laser label material is a nonporous stock made to withstand
the intense heat of laser printers and copiers. A drawback of laser labels is that the entire sheet needs to be
printed before any labels are used; once labels have been removed the sheet cannot be put through the
printer again without damaging the printing mechanism. Inkjet label material is a porous stock made to accept
ink and dye from an inkjet printer. One of the more modern inkjet label material stocks is waterproof printable
inkjet material commonly used for soap or shower gel containers.
Security labels are used for anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, tamper-evident seals and anti-pilferage seals.
These combine a number of overt and covert features to make reproduction difficult. The use of security
printing, holography, embossing, barcodes, RFID chips, custom printing and weak (or weakened) backings is
common. They are used for authentication, theft reduction, and protection against counterfeit and are
commonly used on ID cards, credit cards, packaging, and products from CDs to electronics to clothing.
Antimicrobial labels. With the growth in hospital acquired infections such as MRSA and E-Coli the use of
antimicrobial labels in infection sensitive areas of hospitals are helping in combating these types of microbes.
Fold-out labels, also known as booklet, multi-page or extended labels, or lablets (combined label + leaflet).
Where the pack is not large enough for a single label to carry all the required information, fold-out labels are
often preferred to separate leaflets, which can easily be lost. These labels are frequently seen on agricultural
chemicals and consumer pharmaceuticals.
Barcode labels A large proportion of labels produced today carry barcodes, either for product identification,
for traceability in items such as freight packages, and on items requiring brand authentication and protection.
There are many different formats of barcodes found on labels, but one of the most commonly distributed
formats is the International Article Number (EAN). This is the code used to identify retail products worldwide,
and is found on almost all consumer level packaging labels.

Stock types
Label "stock" is the carrier which is commonly coated on one side with adhesive and printed on the other, and can
be:

Paper - a variety of papers and paperboards can be used as labels

Nonwoven fabric - for extra durability
Latex – a lithographic stock with some added latex allows the label to be much more flexible and form around

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certain curved objects more easily than standard paper;

Plastics such as acetate, vinyl, and PET film allow a

variety of features, such as greater strength, stiffness,
transparency and resistance to tearing. They typically
require special equipment and printing methods (ultra-
violet curing is common) as they do not normally print well
with conventional ink. A bumper sticker is usually a vinyl
label with a very strong, durable adhesive and lightfast
inks. Embossing tape is "printed" by pressing raised
elements similar to printing type onto it, which produces
raised glyphs that look white due to discoloration of the
Labels on a laptop.
plastic. A type known as 'destructible vinyl' is commonly
used for asset labels. It combines a very thin frangible
face stock with a very strong high tack adhesive, thus
making the label impossible to remove without damaging it. Engraved multi-layer Traffolyte labels are
frequently used in industrial situations due to their durability;
Foil – Aluminum foil and vapor-coated plastic films are often chosen for the bright reflective characteristics;
Thermal – direct thermal label stock will change color (usually black) when heated. A heating element in the
shape of letters or images can be used to create an image on the label. Custom labels can be easily be made
on location in this way. A disadvantage is durability, because another heat source can ruin or obscure the
image, or it may fade completely over time;
Thermal transfer for applications that cannot use thermal (thermal direct) label material because of heat
source proximity or short label life, a more widely used material is the thermal transfer label printer. This
material has the advantage of a much longer readable life and does not fade with time or heat. Most major
manufacturers of thermal printers can be used for either thermal transfer (TT) or thermal (DT) labels. A
thermal transfer ribbon will be required to print the labels. The cost of the ribbons + TT labels is similar to that
of the DT labels on their own;
Thermal transfer ribbon types:

Wax is the most popular as it has some smudge resistance, and is suitable for matte and semi-gloss paper
labels;
Wax and resin are smudge resistant, suitable for semi-gloss paper and some synthetic labels;
Resin is scratch and chemical resistant, suitable for coated synthetic labels;
None – labels can be printed directly on adhesive without using a substrate. Labels made in this manner are
extremely fragile, however, and have been rendered virtually obsolete by other printing methods such as silk
screen;
The stock type will affect the types of ink that will print well on them. Corona treating or flame treating some
plastics makes them more receptive to inks, coatings, and other substrates by reducing surface tension and
improving overall adhesion of the plastics.

An alternative method of labelling is weaving the text directly into fabric.

Attachment
Labels can be attached by:

Heat activated adhesives: for example, "in-mold labeling" can be part of blow molding containers and employs
heat activated adhesives. Hot melt adhesives are also used.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives (also called PSA or self-stick) are applied with light pressure without activation
or heat. PSA labels often have release liners which protect the adhesive and assist label handling.
Rivets used to attach information plates to industrial equipment.
Shrink wrap for printed shrinkable labels placed over packages and then heated to shrink them.
Sewing for fabrics such as clothing, tents, mattresses and industrial sacks.
Wet glue such as starch, dextrin, PVA or water moistenable gummed adhesive.
Yarn, twine or plastic tie, usually referred to as a swing tag.

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Static cling, where "stickers" have a static charge enabling them to attach
without adhesive to smooth surfaces such as glass.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive types

Pressure-sensitive label adhesives are commonly made from water-based
acrylic adhesives, with a smaller volume made using solvent-based adhesives
and hotmelt adhesives. The most common adhesive types are:

Permanent – Typically not designed to be removed without tearing the

stock, damaging the surface, or using solvents. The adhesion strength
and speed can also be varied. For example, full adhesion can be nearly
instant, or the label can be almost removable for a short period with full
adhesion developing in minutes or hours (known as respositionable
adhesives).
Shrink label over PET bottle
Peelable – Adhesion is fairly strong and will not fall off in normal
of milk
circumstances, but the label can be removed relatively easily without
tearing the base stock or leaving adhesive behind on the old surface. The
adhesive is usually strong enough to be applied again elsewhere. This
type is frequently known as 'removable'. There are many different types of removable adhesives, some are
almost permanent, some are almost 'ultra peelable'.
Ultra-peelable – Designed principally for use on book covers and glass, when removed these adhesives
labels do not leave any residue whatsoever. Adhesion is weak and only suitable for light duty applications.
Normally these labels have very little adhesion to anything once they've been removed.
Freezer or frost fix – Most permanent and peelable adhesives have a service temperature limit of -10
degrees Celsius, whereas freezer (otherwise known as frost fix) adhesives have a service temperature -40
degrees Celsius and are suitable for deep freeze use.
High tack – A type of permanent adhesive that exhibits a high initial grab to the application surfaces, and is
commonly used at higher coat weights to enable labels to adhere strongly to difficult, rough or dirty surfaces.

Application
Labels may be supplied separately or on a roll or sheet. Many labels are
pre-printed by the manufacturer. Others have printing applied
manually or automatically at the time of application. Specialized high
speed label printer applicators may be used to apply labels to packages;
these and other methods may be subject to recognized standards.[10][11]
Some labels have protective overcoats, laminates, or tape to cover them
after the final print is applied. This is sometimes before application and
sometimes after. Labels are often difficult to peel and apply. A label
dispenser can speed up this task.

A typical label dispenser

Usability
Aspects such as legibility, literacy and interpretation come into play for users of labels, and label writers therefore
need some degree of professional writing skill.[12] Depending upon country or region, international standards may
be applied.[13] Where literacy may be an issue, pictograms may feature alongside text, such as those advanced by
CropLife International in their Responsible Use manual.[14] Labels or printed packaging may include Braille to aid
users with visual impairment.

Criticism of label readability is not uncommon; for example, Canadian researchers found that medicine labels did
not consistently follow legibility guidelines.[15] In some countries and industries, for example the UK (food)[16] and

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EU (medicines)[17] label guidelines are not legally binding (the latter using phrases such as "The type size should be
as large as possible to aid readers...") and thus are unenforceable. On the other hand, countries may stipulate legal
minima for readability, such as the USA's FDA on nutritional information[18] and Australia/New Zealand's code for
food labels and packs.[19]

Environmental considerations
Labels may affect the environment during manufacture, use, and post-use. Choice of backings, coatings, adhesives,
and liners can be strong factors. Environmental regulations and guidelines can come from many sources. Users of
labels on packaging may consider some of the sustainable packaging guidelines. Based on the solid waste
hierarchy, the quantity and size of labels should be minimized without reducing necessary functionality. Material
content of a label should comply with applicable regulations. Life cycle assessments of the item being labeled and
of the label itself are useful to identify and improve possible environmental effects. For example, reuse or recycling
are sometimes aided by a label being removable from a surface.

If a label remains on an item during recycling, a label should be chosen which does not hinder the recyclability of
the item.[20][21] For example, when labeled corrugated boxes are recycled, wet strength paper labels do not hinder
box recycling: the PSA adhesive stays with the backing and is easily removed. Paper backings without wet strength
may release their adhesives, potentially contaminating recycling efforts.[22][23] Labels can aid in recycling and
reuse by communicating the material content of the item, instructions for disassembly or recycling directions. An
eco-label is used on consumer products (including foods) to identify products that may be less damaging to the
environment and/or humans than other related products, such as sustainable seafood encouraged by Friend of the
Sea.[24]

Other aspects

Color
Ink and base stock color choices commonly conform to the Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors. The Pantone
system is very dominant in the label printing industry. Additionally specialty inks such as metallic, UV ink,
magnetic ink, and more are available. Ink is usually transparent however it can be made opaque. It has been known
for certain companies to patent "their own" color. Digital labels use process colors to replicate Pantone solid colors.

Collectability
Collecting labels is a worldwide phenomenon, from labels used on matchboxes and foodstuffs (e.g., cheese), wine,
to printed packages. Collectors are attracted to labels both for their influence on artistic design and the history of
retailing.[25]

See also
Nameplate
Packaging and labeling
Pressure-sensitive tape
Sticker
Swing tag
Topflight Corporation

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References
1. "UK Food Labelling & Packaging" (https://www.gov.uk/food-labelling-and-packaging/overview). Retrieved
5 Mar 2014.
2. "FDA Food Label Requirements in a Nutshell" (http://www.foodpackaginglabels.net/food-labeling-
requirements/). Retrieved 12 June 2015.
3. "Alcoholic Beverage Labeling and Advertising" (https://www.ttb.gov/consumer/labeling_advertising.shtml).
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
4. Paula, K; Ashraf, A (January 4, 2013). "Asset Labels, Asset Sticker, Property ID, Property Labels: Asset Label
Generator" (http://www.assetlabels.com.au//). Asset Labels Australia.
5. "Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule" (http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus50-
clothes-captioning-complying-care-labeling-rule). (November 2001). Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal
Trade Commission (United States)
6. "Textile Industry Affairs: Writing a care label" (http://www.textilecare.com/writing.htm). Retrieved 5 Mar 2014.
7. "Threading Your Way Through the Labeling Requirements Under the Textile and Wool Acts"
(http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bus21-threading-your-way-through-labeling-requirements-under-textile-
and-wool-acts). (May 2005). Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission (United States)
8. "What is Kiss Cutting, What are Piggyback Labels?" (http://www.printindustry.com/Newsletters/Newsletter-
172.aspx). www.printindustry.com. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
9. "Examples of printer label formats" (http://www.iidsolutions.co.uk/templates/uploads/documents/products
/2152780_1.pdf) (PDF). Iidsolutions.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
10. ASTM D5375 Standard Test Methods for Liner removal at High Speeds from Pressure-Sensitive Label Stock.
ASTM
11. ASTM D6252 Standard Test Method for Peel Adhesion of Pressure Sensitive Label Stocks at 90 deg Angle.
ASTM
12. Gold, Karen (13 June 1992). If all else fails, read the instructions. New Scientist.
13. ASTM D7298-06 Standard Test Method for Measurement of Comparative Legibility by Means of Polarizing
Filter Instrumentation. ASTM
14. "The Responsible and Effective Use of Crop Protection Products" (https://d1jkwdgw723xjf.cloudfront.net/wp-
content/uploads/2014/04/Guidelines-for-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-crop-protection-products.pdf.). Retrieved
14 December 2014.
15. "Small font, all capitals makes prescription labels too hard to read" (http://www.torontosun.com/2014/07
/09/small-font-all-capitals-makes-prescription-labels-too-hard-to-read-study). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
16. "Food Standards Agency - Clear food labelling - Guidance" (http://multimedia.food.gov.uk/multimedia
/pdfs/clearfoodlabelling.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
17. "Eurpopean Commission: Guideline of the readability of the labelling and package leaflet of medicinal products
for human use" (http://ec.europa.eu/health/files/eudralex/vol-2
/c/2009_01_12_readability_guideline_final_en.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
18. "FDA - Labeling and Nutrition" (http://www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation
/guidancedocumentsregulatoryinformation/labelingnutrition/ucm064904.htm). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
19. "Food Standards Australia New Zealand" (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/userguide/Documents
/Guide%20to%201.2.9%20-%20Legibility%20Requirements.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 14 July 2014.
20. Kovach, A; Brown, S (July 1, 2008). "Label recycling: a materials issue" (http://www.packagingdigest.com/).
Packaging Digest.
21. Katz, S (July 2008). "Waste Recycling" (http://www.labelandnarrowweb.com/articles/2008/07/waste-recycling).
Label and Narrow Web.
22. Jensen, Timothy (April 1999). "Packaging Tapes:To Recycle of Not" (https://web.archive.org
/web/20071109204909/http://www.pstc.org/technical_notes/to_recycle.php?subject=packaging). Adhesives
and Sealants Council. Archived from the original (http://www.pstc.org/technical_notes
/to_recycle.php?subject=packaging) on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-06.

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23. Gruenewald, L. E.; Sheehan, R. L. (1997). "Consider box closures when considering recycling". J. Applied
Manufacturing Systems. St Thomas Technology Press. 9 (1): 27–29. ISSN 0899-0956
(https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0899-0956).
24. "Sustainable Seafood Products Certification" (http://www.friendofthesea.org/). Retrieved 17 May 2014.
25. Opie, Robert (1987). The Art of the Label. Simon & Schuster. p. 140. ISBN 0671654411.

Further reading
Yam, K. L., "Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology", John Wiley & Sons, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-08704-6
Holkham, T., Label Writing and Planning – A guide to good customer communication, Chapman & Hall 1995,
ISBN 0-7514-0361-X
ASTM D7932 Standard Specification for Printed, Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Labels for Use in Extreme
Distribution Environments

External links
Boston Public Library, USA. Produce Crate Labels (https://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library
/sets/72157623956299174/), ca. pre-1950s

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