Matching products with the correct labelling materials isn’t always a straightforward process and varies between industries. Especially when the relation between cost and sustainability needs to be considered.
We have gathered an overview of cost-efficient ways to reduce your industry's carbon footprint. Although sustainability goals and initiatives are essential in any industry, we set our sights on the five largest: Food, Automotive, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care.
As one of the largest product segments, the food industry in Kenya and across Africa has been pushing for cheaper materials, with the choice falling on paper labels. Although paper might work well in confectionery, it is perhaps not an appropriate choice for the edible oil industry or across the food industry in general.
For instance, if we consider edible oil cans, the typical choice of label material is self-adhesive paper, mainly influenced by cost-related factors. Due to oil spillage, there is a risk that the labels get stained, which results in poor shelf appeal. Therefore, a more suitable material is Polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene (PE). If brand owners opt for PP or PE materials, it helps promote and retain the shelf appeal for longer.
From a sustainability and price perspective, optimizing the label’s size is important. In some cases, labels are larger and can cover the bottle’s circumference in full. Ideally, at any time, you can only view 60 to 70% of the bottle’s circumference; hence, reducing the label length by 30 to 40 % won’t affect functionality. Deciding to decrease the size saves the environment from significant amounts of plastics and is a more cost-efficient choice.
Using Food Grade inks while printing food industry labels is always advisable. Skanem provides Food Grade inks to our customers.
Read more: Do you have a sustainable plan for your packaging and labelling?
When it comes to the automotive industry, there are many different label materials to choose from. Product type is key for determining the correct type of material and ensuring that it meets sustainability requirements.
The price can be an obstacle for some, so the choice often falls on PP materials. As a brand owner, you need to be aware that this solution can often backfire. A typical error we see is that the label peels off because it is often restricted in flexibility, particularly when used on products within the automotive segment.
The best suitable label material for products in the automotive industry is PE (Polyethylene). PE film is conformable, whereas PP film is rigid. Some brand owners use either 85-micron or 100-micron PE material.
Sustainability being a prime agenda for Skanem, we are happy to propose using a combination of PP and PE film called FlexiPrint, which is both a cost-efficient choice and helps increase sustainability levels.
This combination allows for the downsizing of the label thickness to reduce plastic consumption. PE materials typically contain about 85 to 100 microns, but with FlexiPrint, it is possible to reduce it to 60 microns. In addition, this particular material combination is easier to recycle and can further aid in reaching sustainability goals. Lastly, it reduces cost due to less material usage without compromising the label’s functionality.
Read more: How to make your packaging more sustainable
There are two main product types within the beverage industry that each require different labelling solutions: Water & Carbonated Drinks and Alcoholic beverages.
This group includes products such as regular water, carbonated drinks, and juices. These all have in common that they are usually stored in a refrigerator.
Our customers prefer to use BOPP Wraparound labels and PVC shrink sleeves for non-alcoholic beverages. Label snapping, static, thickness, and deviation in the dimension of the labels are major areas to consider when using BOPP wraparound labels. Skanem is happy to guide customers on this to enable optimal line performance.
When it comes to shrink sleeves, PET materials are ideal for labelling refrigerated beverages. The material is highly recyclable and reusable and can be turned into pallets or new PET containers, to name a few.
Typical for start-up companies, especially in Africa, is that the choice often falls on PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sleeves instead. These are non-recyclable and end up in the landfill after usage. Therefore, Skanem recommends switching to more environmentally friendly materials such as PET.
Cost is undoubtedly a significant factor here too, and there is a price difference between the two options.
Labels for alcoholic beverages have different functionalities and are meant to appear more attractive. Skanem recommends that brand owners in this industry segment go for labels with maximum shelf appeal. Ideally, paper labels are advisable since they are difficult to remove from the bottle and discourage counterfeiting. However, on some products such as Gin and Vodka, brand owners prefer to opt for a transparent film with embellishment for better shelf appeal and aesthetic look.
All wines, spirits, and beer bottles are made of glass. Using a paper label with embellishments will make the product sustainable. This means that it can be recycled together with the glass bottle.
Read more: How to make your packaging and labelling stand out from the crowd
There is a standard within pharmaceuticals always to use paper labels, normally a face stock with 80GSM. However, downsizing the face stock from 80GSM to 70GSM will make the labels thinner. The effect of doing so is not just cost-saving but ultimately gives back to nature.
It is also possible to use food grade inks and FSC grade paper material here. This way, you can follow the entire sustainability chain from production to the end-consumer.
Having Skanem Africa in your corner, we can provide your brand with the right material for the right products to achieve an adequate level of sustainability.
Within personal care, our best advice is to go with PP labels, which are designed to fit the products within this segment. But most importantly, there are numerous PP material options to choose from, and it is easier to optimize the label size for these product types correctly. This is important because the right size matters greatly for achieving a decent sustainability level, and we cannot stress this enough.
Perhaps the most important thing to avoid is paper labels on personal care products, such as shampoo or lotion bottles. Needless to say, this will negatively impact the label's functionality once in contact with water or oil-based substances.
Read more: How much should your labels be able to endure?
At Skanem Africa, we continuously work on better solutions for a greener environment. You can read more about our joint efforts as part of the Holy Grail Project 2.0.
It is also worth mentioning our return system for all the above-mentioned industries. Certain materials can be re-purchased from our customers and later re-used, making the process more cost-efficient. An example is the cores on which the labels have been rolled and the cartons if they are in good condition.
In addition, there are many governmental benefits or subsidies for increasing sustainability. We are more than happy to offer support in achieving the proper criteria. Feel free to contact us for further information about sustainability efforts regarding labels.