Shrink sleeve labels are printed labels that use high heat to conform to the shape of a container. Commonly used on aluminum cans, shrink sleeve labels are printed in full color and in 360-degrees. This increases the design space available on your label by 150-percent, giving you more real estate for imagery, brand information, and the regulatory information that needs to go on your label.
If you have multiple product lines, shrink sleeve labels allow for more flexibility with your packaging. You can purchase blank aluminum cans and only apply can sleeving to the amount you need instead of purchasing pre-labeled cans that could go to waste.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about can labels, including FDA required information.
How Do Shrink Sleeve Labels Work?
Shrink sleeve labels use high heat to conform to the shape of your container. They can adhere to any shape, angle, or unique curve. Once the design is printed and turned into sleeves, the sleeves are slipped over your container and sent through a high heat or steam tunnel. A radiant heat tunnel, hot air tunnel, steam tunnel, or hybrid tunnel can be used for this process. The intense heat will shrink the film around the container and adhere it to the can. Unlike traditional print labels, shrink sleeve labels print the ink on the inside of the label instead of the top. This helps ensure that the ink is protected by the film as it adheres to the container.
How Do I Make Shrink Sleeve Labels?
The first step to making a shrink sleeve label is the design process. You can either design them yourself or work with a graphic designer, or get private label services to help bring your brand to life. Because custom shrink sleeves give you more canvas to work with than traditional labels, you have plenty of space to include imagery, more on your brand, and all the required regulatory information. Most print shops are able to print unique features such as foil accents, matte finishes, and texture to make truly original packaging. This is your chance to be creative and make your brand stand out from the crowd.
As a hint in the name, shrink sleeve labels shrink during the adhering process. Because of this, your label design will warp as the sleeve conforms to the container. Your label design needs to be prepared to conform as well. Keep in mind any shapes your container may have, and make sure it’s accounted for in your design. Your design might also need to be pre-distorted to account for the shrinkage of the label. A sleeving and labeling partner, like Wildpack, can assist with this process.
Once your design has been finalized, sheets are printed in full color on a flexographic or digital printing press. The sheets then need to be converted into sleeves. Some print shops, like Wildpack, do this in-house, while other printers may need to send them out to shrink sleeve converters. The sheets are converted with seams on the ends of the sheet, leaving openings at the top and the bottom of the newly created sleeve. The seams are sealed with a specific type of glue and then inspected to make sure graphics are aligned correctly, and the sleeves won’t break open.
Your beautifully designed sleeves are then applied to your container and ready to be filled for sale!
What are Shrink Labels Made of?
Shrink sleeve labels are printed on shrink film materials, usually plastic or polyester film. The material is incredibly durable and protects against moisture and heavy use. Since the design is printed on the inside of the label and then adhered to the container, shrink sleeve labels are ideal for any products, such as craft beer, that face humid or heavy moisture environments like a refrigerator.
The original material developed for shrink sleeve labels was polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is still broadly used today and can be readily found at a low cost. However, environmental sensitivities around phthalate and chlorine have created concerns around PVC.
Today, the primary material used in shrink sleeve labels is Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG). PETG can shrink up to 78%, has great overall film clarity, and has widespread availability. PETG is a little more expensive than PVC but is a great option for shrink sleeve labels.
Oriented Polystyrene (OPS) and Polylactic Acid (PLA) are two other shrink sleeve materials that are used. OPS has a higher yield and a more controlled shrink rate, so it requires careful handling. PLA is a bio-based polymer material with limited sources of supply.
What Information is Required on a Beverage Can?
Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TBB) have certain requirements that a label must include. Below you will find the information required to help your labels not only be beautiful, but regulatory compliant as well. If you are producing an alcoholic beverage, like craft beer, you do need to submit your label to the TBB for approval before putting it on your packaging.
Statement of Identity
The first thing the FDA requires is the Statement of Identity. This is the common or usual name of the food or beverage – the name of the product. The statement of identity must be placed on the principal display panel (PDP), in a bold type, and one of the most prominent features on the main label. The statement of identity must be included on all alternate PDPs as well.
Some foods and beverages also have standards of identity. These standards are defined criteria that products must meet in order to identify by a certain name. For example, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau classification of a cider is, “a fruit wine that is derived wholly from apples may be designated as cider.” Malt beverages are also required to be designated on the product.
Nutrition Fact Chart
The nutrition fact chart contains information about the serving size, number of calories in the beverage, and the amount of fat, sodium, protein, and other ingredients in the product. The FDA does have guidelines on the nutrition fact chart on the font size and order of the content. Make sure to look it up when making your chart. The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor should be included with the nutrition fact chart on the PDP as well.
Generally, alcoholic beverages do not include the nutrition fact chart but do include the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
Ingredient List
The FDA requires every ingredient in the food or beverage product to be listed. The list of ingredients starts with the more predominant ingredient by weight and then proceeds in descending order.
English
All mandatory words, statements, and information must be printed in English. The label may include other languages along with English, but if a foreign language is used, English must be used as well.
Claims
There are three types of claims that, if applicable to your product, need to be added to the label. Health Claims characterize the relationship of any of any substance in the product to a disease or health-related condition. Nutrient Content Claims characterize the level of nutrient in a food. Structure/Function Claims describe the role of a nutrient or dietary ingredient intended to affect normal structure of function in humans.
Alcoholic Beverages
If your product is an alcoholic beverage, additional information is required on your label. Net content, alcohol content, presence of coloring materials, other additives/agents, and government warnings are also needed to maintain compliance. Net content specifies the fluid content of the can in standard US measures, fluid ounces. Alcohol content must be specified on label and is expressed in percent alcohol by volume. If the product contains coloring materials, such as FD&C Yellow No. 5, or any additives or agents, like sulfite, they are required to be disclosed on the label. Last but not least, the government warning for alcohol needs to be on the label.
