Vinyl labels are one of the most common types of product label out there and they serve a multitude of industries. Unlike its cheaper and more abundant paper alternative, vinyl extends the limits of durability which paper labels simply cannot match.
You’ll find that not only does vinyl offer a more durable label finish, it also offers value when having short to medium print runs. No longer will you have to order rolls and rolls of flexographic labels and only use a few of them, we can print from a single label to many thousands. Less waste and a better bottom line for you!
Another benefit of vinyl is the ability to have fairly complicated shapes, with no extra cost. The digital kiss or die cutting process ensures that cuts remain accurate from one label to the next.
What exactly is Vinyl?
Vinyl is a man-made synthetic material. It’s a product that was invented to make manufacturing of products cheaper, easier and faster. The vinyl we use has additives that make it flexible, as a sticker that doesn’t bend would not be good!
Because the vinyl is a plastic it gives it great durability and long life, far longer than the alternative paper labels. For example, it can be used to label outdoor machinery and last for many years without breaking down. They are weatherproof and will not break down easily, so perfect for long term use.
The technical name for vinyl in our industry is PVC, otherwise known as Polyvinyl Chloride.
Recycling Vinyl
Unfortunately as it’s essentially a plastic the surface is recyclable, however both vinyl & paper is not recyclable when it has adhesive applied to it as it gets stuck in the recycling machines. It can however be removed from a product prior to recycling the product. Luckily a vinyl label is not very thick and only makes up a small percentage of a product. Alternative materials don’t exist quite yet that have the same product attributes but we’re always on the lookout. If you know of any, let us know!