There’s growing pressure on CPG companies to make packaging more sustainable. Between rising consumer expectations and regulatory changes like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), it can feel like achieving your sustainability goals requires a complete packaging overhaul. In the case of pressure sensitive and shrink sleeve labels, meaningful progress starts with small, practical changes.
Below, we share simple label adjustments to strengthen recyclability, reduce material use, and support your broader sustainability strategy.
Sustainable Options for Pressure Sensitive Labels (PSL)
1. Use Wash-Off Adhesives for Better PET Circularity
Wash-off adhesives are engineered to provide strong adhesion during use but remove cleanly from PET containers during the recycling wash process. When these adhesives are washed off, they keep the PET flake high-quality and more easily returned to the circular stream. This is one of the most impactful, low-effort upgrades for brands using PET bottles.
2. Choose Liners with Post-Consumer Recycled Content (PCR)
Many PSL liners are now available with recycled content, offering brands an easy way to reduce use of virgin material and improve label sustainability without changing artwork or label material.
Selecting a liner that incorporates PCR helps support circularity and lowers the environmental footprint of your label construction. Even modest percentages of recycled content make a meaningful difference across high-volume runs.
3. Reduce Material Where You Can
Material reduction can work with PSL the same way it does on bottles or closures. Small shifts can make a big difference:
- Thinner PSL materials lower material use without compromising performance.
- Reducing label size decreases waste and can improve recyclability by reducing the amount of non-recyclable material entering the recycling stream
Sustainable Options for Shrink Sleeves
1. Add a Perforation for Easy Removal
Shrink sleeves typically cover most of the container, making them great for branding, but adding a step to the recycling process.
A simple perforation makes it easy for consumers or recycling facilities to remove the sleeve before the container goes into the stream.
Often, brands incorporate a visual cue, such as a zipper graphic, to signal where to tear.
2. Consider Downgauging
Downgauging shrink film reduces material use without sacrificing durability or print quality. Today’s films offer strong performance at thinner gauges, giving brands a sustainable upgrade that doesn’t affect consumer experience.
Consumer Education Makes These Changes Even More Effective
Improving material choices is part of the solution, but consumers need clear, simple instructions to recycle packaging correctly. According to national research conducted by The Recycling Partnership, 78% of consumers nationwide look at recycling information on a product or product label to make sure an item ends up in the right place.
However, the same research states that of the 78% who look at labels, nearly two-thirds report confusion about whether an item is recyclable after looking at the product label. Consumers expect recycling information to be clear and appreciate consistent formatting.
How2Recycle provides brands with structured ways to communicate disposal steps, relying on APR Guidelines. Their labels follow the below components:
- Geographic Qualifier: Indicates whether guidance applies to the U.S. or Canada
- Special Instructions: Give additional steps needed for proper recycling (such as “rinse & replace cap”).
- Recyclability Designation: Tells consumers how to dispose of the item—Widely Recyclable, Check Locally, Store Drop-Off, or Not Yet Recyclable.
- Packaging Material: Identifies the material the component is made of.
- Packaging Item: Specifies which part of the package the label refers to, breaking down multi-component packaging.
Alongside standardized labels like How2Recycle, brands can include their own cues to support proper disposal, especially for shrink sleeves. Helpful additions include:
- A zipper-style graphic showing where to tear
- Short instructions indicating that the sleeve should be removed before recycling
- QR codes linking to more detailed recycling information
These consumer education elements work together to make recycling instructions easier to follow, increasing the likelihood that packaging enters the correct stream.
Small Label Adjustments for a Meaningful Impact on Sustainability
You don’t need a full overhaul to make your packaging more sustainable. Thoughtful changes such as wash-off adhesives, PCR liners, and downgauging can significantly improve recyclability and reduce environmental impact.
At Steinhauser, we collaborate with brands to help them meet their sustainability goals, whether reducing environmental impact or meeting regulatory expectations like EPR.
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