Adhesive Label Knowledge and Application: How to Present Unique Packaging Design with Labels

Packaging has always been the bond that connects products, brands, and consumers. When consumers stand in front of a shelf full of products, the packaging label is undoubtedly an important medium for conveying product positioning, style, flavor, health benefits, and other information, establishing a connection with consumers. Here is a wealth of knowledge on adhesive labels from SHIMAI, so be sure to save it.

The common label technologies in the market can generally be divided into adhesive labels, wrap-around labels, shrink films, wet-glue labels, in-mold labels, and directly printed labels. Among them, adhesive labels stand out from other types of labels. They can be used for partial labeling and can be combined with a variety of exquisite printing processes. They also meet the demand for small-batch production and are the mainstream label technology in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry.

Why can adhesive labels stand out from other technologies and better present design effects by combining with various exquisite printing processes? This has to do with the structure of adhesive labels. Typically, adhesive labels have a “sandwich” structure, consisting of three parts: face material, adhesive, and liner.

The face material is the important carrier that ultimately presents product information to end consumers. Depending on the brand's requirements, different materials can be chosen to achieve different printing performance and application needs. For example, common face materials include paper and film. Paper face materials offer better printing performance and a special tactile feel, often used in product packaging such as wine labels. Film face materials, with their moisture-proof and weather-resistant characteristics, are commonly used in the personal care and cleaning product sectors.

During the use of labels, the adhesive and liner layers are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in the product's life cycle, consumer purchasing experience, and processing performance. Will the label stick firmly without curling? Will it remain intact after being exposed to refrigeration or soaked in an ice bucket? The speed and method of labeling, as well as issues like liner tearing, are all closely related to the materials and characteristics of the adhesive and liner layers.

So, what are the trends in the FMCG packaging field? And what are some inspiring packaging designs that can help brands lead industry consumption trends?

From 650 billion yuan in 2015 to breaking 800 billion yuan in 2024, the market size of China's health food industry has been climbing year by year. As consumers pay more and more attention to health, the packaging industry also needs to think about how to convey the value and health concept of products through packaging. Transparent packaging is a powerful tool that allows consumers to see exactly what they are getting, conveying the concept of health and authenticity.

Adhesive labels have unique advantages in the field of transparent packaging. Through personalized partial labeling, they can ensure the presentation of product concepts while allowing brand owners or packaging designers to pursue the ultimate transparency of the product. This makes consumers feel confident in what they eat and assured in what they buy.

With young consumers becoming the core driving force in the market and new brands constantly emerging, more and more new consumer players are entering the market, and consumption upgrading is an inevitable trend. Many brands are pursuing high-end and differentiated products, and as a result, product packaging is also showing trends of high-end and differentiated design to achieve better marketing effects. Let's take a look at a few examples.

This is a crossover between barbecue sauce and whiskey. The packaging design of SALT LICK Aged Barbecue Sauce Whiskey won the 2016 ANDY Bronze Award from the American Advertising Federation. The packaging uses black fiber paper + exquisite gold foil effect, with embossing on the text. Both visually and tactilely, the packaging conveys a sense of quality and style.

This product won the 2019 Pentawards Bronze Award, representing a crossover between olive oil and high-end wine labels. The label consists of two layers. The top layer is oil-resistant paper from Arconvert, with olive-shaped openings that reveal the screen-printed PVC underneath, telling a complete brand story. The combination of the oil-resistant cotton-textured paper and the double-layer label design enhances the visual differentiation and quality of the olive oil. At the same time, it connects Marina Palusci's design concept and patterns, showing the complete growth process from olive blossoms to fruit, clearly expressing the essence of the product and eliminating any visual distractions or unnecessary decorations.

Gee Coffee selected cotton-textured paper with a 5% cotton content and a natural rough texture as the packaging material. When you gently touch the label, you can feel the natural cotton fibers and texture on the surface of the cotton-textured paper. The same cotton-textured paper label is used in the packaging of Gee Coffee's specialty coffee beans, employing an innovative combination of “soft packaging bags + adhesive labels.” This combination not only maintains a consistent style but also adds a touch of personalization to the packaging. Unlike ordinary coated paper, cotton-textured paper retains the natural feel of the paper, making it suitable for embossing processes and achieving a high-relief effect, which endows the packaging with a deeper level of aesthetic appeal.