Linerless Labels: A Small Change That Can Make a Big Difference to Packaging Waste

Sustainability targets often lead businesses towards big projects: new packaging, new machinery, new suppliers or major changes to production.

But sometimes, it is worth looking at the smaller things too.

Labels are a good example.

Traditional self-adhesive labels are supplied on a backing liner which protects the adhesive until the label is applied. It is a familiar system and one that works extremely well, but once the labels have been used, that backing material is left behind as waste.

For businesses using labels in high volumes, there can be rather a lot of it.

Linerless labels offer a different approach. By removing the backing liner altogether, they can help businesses reduce waste whilst also bringing some useful operational benefits.

What Exactly Is a Linerless Label?

The clue is in the name.

A linerless label is a pressure-sensitive label supplied without the traditional release liner. Instead of peeling individual labels away from backing paper, the labels are supplied as a continuous roll with the adhesive incorporated into the construction.

They can then be printed and cut to the required length by a compatible linerless printer.

It sounds like a relatively simple change.

In the right application, however, removing the liner can make quite a difference.

Less Liner, Less Waste

The most obvious advantage is waste reduction.

With conventional labels, every label applied leaves a piece of liner behind. One label does not create much waste, of course. Neither do ten.

But consider an operation producing thousands of labels every day.

Over weeks, months and years, the amount of discarded backing material can become significant.

Linerless technology removes that particular waste stream from the process.

For organisations reviewing their packaging and labelling as part of wider sustainability initiatives, this can be an attractive place to make an improvement without necessarily changing the information displayed on the label itself.

More Labels, Less Roll

Removing the liner also means more usable label material can typically be accommodated on a roll of a comparable size.

That has benefits beyond waste.

More labels per roll can mean fewer roll changes, which is particularly useful in busy environments where stopping to replace consumables interrupts the workflow.

It can also reduce the amount of storage space required for label stock and potentially reduce the number of boxes that need to be handled, stored and transported.

So whilst sustainability might be the initial reason for investigating linerless labels, operational efficiency can be an equally interesting part of the conversation.

Variable-Length Labels Can Reduce Unnecessary Material

There is another advantage that is sometimes overlooked.

Traditional die-cut labels generally have a predetermined size. Whether you need two lines of information or ten, the physical label remains the same.

Many linerless systems can print and cut labels at variable lengths.

A short order may therefore receive a short label, whilst an order containing more information can receive a longer one.

That flexibility can help businesses use the amount of label material appropriate to the job rather than applying the same fixed-size label every time.

It is particularly useful in applications where the amount of printed information regularly changes.

Sustainability Has to Work Operationally

Of course, reducing waste is only useful if the alternative actually works.

A labelling system still needs to be reliable, practical and appropriate for the environment in which it is being used.

Print quality matters.

Adhesion matters.

Printer compatibility matters.

The surface being labelled matters.

And the volume and speed of the operation certainly matter.

That is why switching to linerless labels should not simply be treated as replacing one roll with another.

The complete application needs to be considered.

Are Linerless Labels Right for Your Business?

Linerless technology can be particularly interesting for organisations producing high volumes of variable-information labels and looking for opportunities to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

But every application is different.

Before changing your labelling process, it is worth considering what you currently use, how many labels you produce, where they are applied and what you would like to improve.

At PrintMedia, we can help you assess whether linerless labels are suitable for your operation and recommend the appropriate combination of labels and printing technology.

Sometimes making packaging more sustainable does not require completely redesigning it.

It might simply start by removing something you no longer need.

Thinking about switching to linerless labels? Speak to the PrintMedia team about your application and we’ll help you determine whether linerless technology is the right fit for your business.