4 Different Flexible Packaging Formats to Use for Your Business

Packaging options help consumers fall in love with your product, are great for branding, and ensure your product stands out in a competitive landscape.

Flexible packaging options have revolutionized product packaging and consumption. In fact, according to Grand View Research, the global flexible packaging market size was approximately $261.04 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030. 

1. Packaging Pouches

Flexible packaging is a term for a broad category of products that are used to package a variety of goods. Flexible packaging pouch constructions can include gusseted bags, stand-up pouches, and flat pouches. These pouches offer a sleek, modern appearance that help reinforce brand identity while providing convenience for customers. They are made from numerous materials, and can be sealed in several ways, including heat sealing, zippers, and adhesives.

Flexible packaging pouches offer a number of advantages over traditional packaging methods. They are lightweight and easy to transport, they can be customized to fit a variety of products, and they are often more environmentally friendly than traditional packaging materials. Flexible packaging pouches are often used for food products, but they can also be used for a variety of other products, such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and electronics.

2. Wrappers

Flexible wrappers can be used for food products like protein bars, granola bars, candy, and more. They are also ideal for items like bars of soap. This form of packaging is specially designed to ensure long-term freshness for the best possible consumer experience. It also offers plenty of space to highlight a brand's logo.

3. Sachets/Packettes

Sachets or packettes are optimal for smaller items, especially single-use products. They are often used to package individual servings of food or beauty products. Brands offering smaller samples of their products can benefit from using this type of packaging, as its relatively flat shape saves space while still offering plenty of room for branding.

4. Laminate Tubes

Ideal for liquid and gel products like shampoo, lotion, and various types of makeup, laminate tubes are frequently used by beauty and health brands. Made of a hybrid of aluminum and plastic, this packaging has a shiny surface that quickly catches the eyes of customers. This format also serves the practical purpose of enabling users to easily squeeze out the product inside.

Our diverse set of flexible packaging options ensures we can provide the most effective packaging for nearly any product. From flexible packaging pouches to wrappers to sachets/packettes to laminate tubes and more — we have you covered! Check out our Flexible Packaging product selection to find out how Premium Label & Packaging Solutions can help you today.

The A-B-C-D of Effective Label Design

In order to perform well and stand out in today’s competitive global economy, a product’s packaging and labeling — specifically its prime label or the primary label on the product — is perhaps its most critical element. With the vast amount of different items on the market, unique branding is vital to attract customers and entice them to choose your product. This blog takes a closer look at the role that packaging and label design plays in a business's profitability.

Aesthetic Appeal

Once a product is placed on the shelf, it needs to effectively capture the eyes of shoppers. Using the right label is essential in achieving this goal. Consumers who appreciate a product's aesthetic are more likely to purchase it. Conversely, according to The Dieline, 33% of shoppers feel inclined to avoid a product if they dislike its label. 

Investing in high quality prime labels can help your products capture consumers' attention in a positive way with enticing, eye-catching visuals. Labels that use bold colors, specialty finishes, and other standout features will better stand out amongst the competition. Working with a quality packaging and labeling company can help you produce the most effective end result to attract attention for your product.

Brand Recognition

Labels play a key role in helping a business establish a loyal consumer base. Shoppers who are familiar with your brand will start to recognize your label over time. After experiencing satisfaction in their initial purchase, a person will form a positive association with your brand and be more likely to recognize and choose your products when they encounter them in the future.

Communication

In addition to being visually attractive, prime labels must also communicate the right message. First and foremost, they should tell shoppers about a product's key features, such as its weight or ingredients. Additionally, labels can be used to underscore your brand's values. For example, you may wish to emphasize that your products are cruelty-free or eco-friendly. Communicating this information clearly increases consumers' trust in your brand and makes them more inclined to invest in your products.

Digital Readiness

Labels that stand out on digital platforms can further increase sales. This is because people are increasingly using social media or websites  to shop and to share recommendations. Consumers are more likely to purchase products online that have eye-catching and informative labels that convey their quality when viewed or shared digitally. 

Creating a one-of-a-kind prime label that looks equally appealing in person or as a digital thumbnail ensures that your branding is consistent and effective across multiple media channels. An experienced labeling company can help ensure your labels are compliant with all relevant regulations, which is essential for businesses that sell products online.

Premium Label & Packaging Solutions offers the top-quality labels businesses need to draw in customers and increase sales. Contact us today to learn more about how our diverse labeling services can benefit your company. We look forward to assisting you!

4 Things to Consider When Choosing Packaging Options

The right packaging materials are extremely important and can impact product sales. After all, packaging is more than just a functional aspect of your product — it is what the consumer sees first when looking at a product. It not only plays a key role in buying decisions, but done well, it can increase a company’s overall brand awareness and recognition.

According to Ipsos, 72% of Americans state that their purchasing decisions were influenced by a product's packaging. This underscores just how significant packaging is to consumers. It also shows how easily your product can be passed by if the label isn't eye-catching, appealing, or doesn't speak to your targeted audience. 

There are many different types of packaging materials — including plastic, metal, and cardboard — as well as numerous labeling options from prime labels to shrink sleeves to expanded content labels and specialty labels. The right choice is crucial to the item’s success.

Read on to learn what you should consider when selecting the right options.

1. Price

As you go about selecting packaging options, price is certainly one of the most important factors to consider. Your company is in business to be profitable and thus it is important to carefully consider costs. If a significant portion of your revenue is being allocated toward expensive packaging materials, it can eat away at your profit. Attractive and eye-catching packaging is important, but so is finding an option in your budget. Make sure your packaging and label  printer has the experience and technology to ensure you have access to a large range of options at the most competitive costs.

2. Customization Options

Regardless of which option you choose, consumers should be able to look at your product and associate it with your brand. For example, take a second to think about a simple bottle for a popular cosmetics brand. You can quickly look at the shrink sleeve on the bottle and instantly recognize the brand without closely analyzing the label. You want the same type of recognition for your products, and being able to customize your packaging is critical to establishing that recognition.

3. Quality

Quality cannot be overlooked when selecting packaging. Your packaging must hold up through the production process, boxing, shipping, unloading, and display. For in-store retail products, the packaging also needs to withstand being thrown in a shopping cart, scanned, bagged, and transported to your consumer's home. If the packaging does not hold up well, that quality is a reflection on your brand.

4. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

With the growing importance and awareness of climate and environmental issues, more and more consumers and companies are looking to “go green,” sustainability and eco-friendliness may be factors that you want to keep in mind when selecting your packaging options. Consider options that are made from recycled materials or are biodegradable, and ensure you are working with a packaging and labeling company that is well-versed in sustainable packaging.

If you're looking for the right packaging options for your products, such as pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, or flexible packaging, we would love to help you achieve your vision. Reach out to Premium Label and Packaging Solutions today to get started.

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Digital Printing Vs. Flexo Printing: Weighing What’s Right for Your Packaging Project

Sustainable, embellished, smart, and tactile; innovation has driven the label business to explode over the last few years.  Brand owners have a plethora of label options to choose from, but it’s important to start by selecting the printing process since it impacts the entire project. In the great debate between flexographic or digital printing, these are the factors to examine to determine which press is best.

Is the Label Info Subject to Change?

If your product is a highly regulated such as CBD, Cannabis or a Pharmaceutical drug, the information on the label may change frequently. If that’s the case, go digital so you don’t need to incur plate charges any time you need an update.

Specialty Labels

Although digital printing continues to add new capabilities every year, if your packaging has any special features or effects, flexo is the way to go.  In general, this method supports a wider variety of print techniques and can produce more elaborate designs.

Inventory

It’s common knowledge that larger quantities mean lower unit costs.  That works for bigger companies who have the storage space and can take advantage of discounted costs.  If larger lots aren’t an option, a short run on a digital press should fit the bill while your brand grows.

Up Close and Personal

Nowadays, variable package printing is becoming a larger part of the marketing mix.  Brand’s like Coca Cola and Bud Light received millions of media impressions for their promotions that featured digitally printed packaging using HP Mosaic software, which generates thousands of unique graphics from just one label design. In other applications, variable data can  help protect a brand against counterfeiting or to authenticate promotional purchases.

Material Matters

One of the benefits of flexographic printing is the variety of substrates one can use.  Plastic films, foils, sustainables, textiles, fabrics, paper, parchment, and more are all suitable.  While material options for digital printing are growing, they are not as plentiful as with flexo.

Everything Counts in Large Amounts

Depending on label size, quantities of up to 5,000 are probably most cost-effective when run on a digital press. Anything more than that, flexographic printing is the better option because it can produce more labels at a quicker speed.  Flexo is also better if you know the job will repeat without changes.

Capable Converter

The best way to choose the right printing method for your job is to actually consult with a  printer who has expertise in both flexographic and digital printing. Our companies have been in business for decades and won numerous awards for both their flexographic and digital printing.  Not only are we uniquely qualified to recommend the right printing method, but will value-engineer the entire project to find the most economical way to produce it without sacrificing the quality and look of the final product.

 Click here to receive a free sample kit, which contains a wide variety of award-winning labels featuring many different finishes, laminations, and effects. 

Which Type of Expanded Content Labels Do I Need?

Expanded content labels (ECLs) are product labels used to add large amounts of product information to a relatively small area of product packaging. An ECL expands or extends the surface area available for adding product information on packaging. It creates several layers or pages that can be revealed and then resealed for future reference. ECLs are commonly used on products with extensive product information, including safety warnings, health, instruction use, ingredients, and more. ECL labels are efficient labeling solutions that can eliminate paper inserts and cartons while ensuring the information does not crowd your brand image.

Applications of Extended Content Labels

Today's manufacturing environment is heavily regulated by government agencies such as the FDA and OSHA. These regulatory bodies require companies to pack a lot of information onto packaging. ECLs help companies meet these requirements without taking away branding space. ECLs also come in myriads of styles, including two-ply or multi-ply, and several industries utilize them where a lot of information needs to be put in small space on a product's packaging. Some of the common applications of ECLs include pharmaceutical products, products used in clinical trials, weed control products, lubricants, pesticides, and more.

Different Types of Expanded Content Labels and Their Specific Applications

The following are the common types of expanded content labels (ECLs):

Booklet Extended Content Labels

Booklet Labels, also called multi-page, multi-ply, multi-layer, or onserted, are among the most commonly utilized labels to pack extensive information on a small label area. These labels print separately from the product label to add later to it to optimize your branding efforts. Apart from providing label design opportunities, booklet labels also help avoid costs by enabling the use of smaller labels than would have been required. Utilize booklet labels on a range of products, from government-regulated goods to everyday household products. Specifically, these labels occur in the following applications:

Foldout (Accordion, Plow-Folded) Labels

Plow folded, or foldout labels are booklets that fold into each other. Retail environments primarily utilize this where a store employee applies promotional coupons by hand. Foldout labels enable more content print onto a large piece of paper that folds before applying to pressure-sensitive label stock all in line and in one process. The folded paper is usually constructed in a manner that allows easy removability from the final product. It also allows resealing and retaining on the final product package. Foldout labels are less expensive to manufacture than other options like on-centered booklets. This is because a single process manufactures the foldouts. However, the size of the folded piece of paper limits the volume of content.

Common uses and applications of foldout labels include:

Peel & Reseal (Peel Off, Peel & Reveal, Peel Back, Resealable) Labels

Peel & Reseal labels are designed to enable the end-user to open, read the contents and reseal the label. They can take 3 to 5 panels of information within the confines of the regular prime label size. It is undeniably the ideal label for managing regulatory compliance or GHS requirements on chemical or pharmaceutical product applications. They are not only more economical to produce than booklet labels, but they are also ideal for sharp radiuses and are compatible with both auto and manual applications. Peel and reseal labels come in two types: 2-ply peel and reseal labels and 3-ply peel and reseal labels. Some of the typical uses and applications of these expanded content labels include:

Dry Release Labels

Dry release expanded content labels on a water bottle
A person peeling off a label off a bottle.

Dry release labels come with a top ply that someone can completely remove. These labels are small and simple stickers that come in different sizes, materials, and shapes. They take valuable massive information from ingredients to direction. Ideally, they allow you to print up to 3 panels worth of content onto your product. Custom printed dry release labels are invaluable to promote your product with instant savings, discounts, terms & conditions, free offers, or special features. Typical uses and applications of dry release labels include:

Prime/Booklet Combo Labels

Create Prime/Booklet Combo labels for small diameter packages which could be as small as a 1 or 2 gallon round jug. They are simple labels commonly utilized on cylindered packages to extend the printable area beyond that of the base circumferences of a cylinder. The booklet combo securely wraps onto itself while allowing for easy unwrapping without adhesive compromising the printed content. Typical uses and applications of prime/booklet Combo labels include bottles, vials, canisters, and quart/ gallon jugs.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between the Types of Expanded Content Label

The following are a few factors to consider when choosing between the types of ECLs discussed above:

Contact Us for Exceptional Expanded Content Labels Today

The ideal extended content labels help you communicate as much information as you need to get across to meet regulatory requirements and optimize your branding. At PLPS, we provide all types of expanded content labels from booklets, foldouts, peel and reseal to prime/booklet combo labels. We will guide you through the label design and printing process, so you choose an option that fits your budget while matching your brand. Our unique labeling and converting capabilities allow us to produce custom converted components for a variety of product applications. Contact us today to learn more.

10 Key Considerations in Choosing a Pharmaceutical Labeling Company

In the United States and other markets, pharmaceutical labeling requirements are stricter than labeling requirements for other products. Whether you are developing medical devices or drug products, you must meet the extra product labeling steps determined by the FDA that guarantee consumers are getting the right information. To ensure your product labels comply with the FDA regulations, choose an experienced pharmaceutical labeling company with the resources and a proven track record. This blog looks at some of the factors to consider when choosing a pharmaceutical labeling company:

What to Look for When Choosing a Pharmaceutical Labeling Company

Available Services

Most labeling providers are quite limited in the styles and materials they offer. The first step in choosing the best labeling service is determining if the options of a particular labeling company you are reviewing work best for your case. For example, if you are developing a product that frequently encounters damp environments, you may need adhesives that resist moisture. Similarly, if you intend to attach labels to outdoor medical equipment or products, you will need materials that can stretch and shrink while still maintaining their shape.

Limited options from a label provider can also limit your creativity. In the current highly competitive market, you need labels that can stand out on shelves and appeal to distracted users. The best label provider should therefore help breathe life into your design using a range of custom options such as:

A Pharmaceutical Labeling Company Needs Experience

The experience level of the labeling company you are reviewing is another critical factor to consider. An experienced labeling provider knows what works for different applications and will find the right solution for your product.

If you are new at making labels, an experienced labeling company will help you choose the best materials for your labels based on your specific needs. An experienced provider can also help solve any issues quickly and efficiently to ensure the finished product meets your expectations and those of the regulators.

Customer Service

You need to partner with a highly responsive labeling provider. It is critical to find a company that puts customer needs first and cares about your labels. Good communication is vital to get a job completed to your specifications. The ideal pharmaceutical labeling company should be easy to get in touch with, whether via email, phone, or website.

Notably, such companies should walk with you through the entire labeling process. Starting with label design and development, all the way to the finished product. Importantly, the right labeler guarantees the procedure from design to printing is as transparent as possible, so you know what to expect at each step of the process. Customer service should always be willing to go the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied with the end product and that the shipping dates are met. They should help whenever you need their assistance while ensuring your satisfaction with your order.

Adaptability to Change

The best label manufacturer should adapt to change and keep up with new technologies to meet the changing market needs and regulatory environments. The label supplier should be familiar with current trends in the labeling industry to recommend the most recent innovations to meet your die-cutting and printing requirements. A supplier with a narrow specialty may not have the capacity to grow with you and your business.

Innovativeness and Creativity

Determine if your label supplier can think outside the box and suggest bolder or unexpected solutions to your labeling challenges. The ideal supplier should be experienced at suggesting enhancements such as adding 2D QR barcodes and perforations between labels that make it easy to roll. They should also provide innovative formats that solve several labeling challenges with one label, such as translating instructions into several languages, especially if your product is intended for multiple markets.

Proactivity

The best labeling partner should be proactive enough to send you new product samples and labeling ideas regularly and as they emerge. They should also alert you in good time whenever your preferred material is discontinued. If there is an impending end-of-life notification, the labeling partner should proactively provide an action plan encompassing lead time, qualified replacement materials, and a reasonable deadline.

A Pharmaceutical Labeling Company Need to be Accurate

An ideal label supplier should be accurate and precise. In medical product labeling, every detail matters right from label design to approval and production stage. The perfect provider should keep in mind key industry and regulatory labeling requirements. This includes the approved fonts, colors, barcode symbologies, quantities, and more during the design and production of labels.

Cost

The price of the labels undeniably informs your purchasing decisions. The ideal label supplier should guarantee reasonably priced services that will not bust your budget. Go for suppliers that purchase label media at highly discounted rates, then pass the savings directly to you without compromising quality or customer service.

Variety of Printing Options

A pharmaceutical labeling company printing labels for a new drug.
Glass bottles ampoules going through the labeling machinery at pharmacy manufacture factory

A good label company will have extensive knowledge of layout and design. They should provide a variety of printing options, such as coating, die-cutting, and custom sizes. Most professional label manufacturers offer foil stamping, embossing, thermal paper, laminations, and different adhesives. They have also invested in top-notch equipment and skilled personnel to print labels on rolls or on sheets. When you choose a company with plenty of printing options and various printing techniques, you get more opportunities to choose the perfect label for your product.

Sustainability

Label printing processes can be wasteful while producing by-products that can affect the environment. If your brand is concerned about the environmental footprint that your processes have on the planet, opt for label printers that take sustainability seriously. The ideal labeling provider adopts processes that conserve materials and energy. Thus, ensuring little impact on the environment. Such providers have the following characteristics:

Find the Perfect Pharmaceutical Labeling Company

Pharmaceutical labeling requirements for medical devices and products come with a range of compliance standards. A recent report estimates that labeling and packaging issues were the root cause of 33% of all medication errors. To prevent potential labeling errors and possible disapproval from industry regulators such as the FDA, it is essential that you work with a detail-oriented label printing company with experience, resources, and a skilled workforce.

If you have further questions or need help to choose an ideal labeling partner for your pharmaceutical labeling needs, don't hesitate to reach out. We provide in-house product label solutions for a multitude of industries, from pharma, agro-chem to retail. Our unmatched capabilities enable us to develop custom labels for a variety of medical product applications. Contact us today to learn more.