5 Types of Labels for Your Favorite Summer Products

June 27, 2022

Summer is officially here, and as we are busy with trips to the pool, summer vacations, and kids’ sporting events, we interact with many types of labels every day.  Each label type has its benefits and best serves the purpose of building the brands consumers use.  Labels and packaging can range from your standard four-color, one-sided, square-cut label all the way to a complex zippered stand-up pouch.  Let’s talk about the five unique label (and packaging) types popping up in the marketplace and your beach bags.

Cut and Stack

Cut and stack labels are found on many of your summer essentials like beer and water. Take one look in your cooler, and you will find a cut and stack label. The materials we use for cut and stack labels are paper, metalized paper, craft paper, or film.  Cut and stack labels are commonly called glue-applied labels, as they need glue to adhere to the containers of the products they serve.

Pressure Sensitive

Pressure-sensitive (PS) labels provide container compatibility, sustainability, functionality, and endless design embellishments.  PS labels are most easily explained and compared to what is commonly known as a sticker.  Pressure sensitive labels are an easy fit for many markets, and indeed, you will find them on many essential barbeque products that you are grilling up like barbeque sauce, mustard, or relish.

In-Mold Labels

In-mold labels are unique when compared to the other label types we’ve discussed thus far.  In-mold labels begin as a label, and the label becomes part of the container through the molding process when the resin is shot into a mold, creating the container itself and adhering the label to the outside.  So next time you grab your favorite Philly cream cheese or favorite side dishes or dips for your girls’ night — you are likely looking at an in-mold label.

Shrink sleeves

Who’s working on that summer bod? 😉  I joke, but if health is a priority in your life, you are likely crossing paths with shrink sleeves on the nutraceutical products in your house.  Products like protein powder, pre-workouts, or meal replacement drinks are often found to have shrink sleeves on these products.  Shrink sleeves provide a characteristic that many other label types lack – versatility.  Shrink sleeves hug the curves of all containers, no matter the size or shape.

Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging comes in all shapes and sizes.  Very different from the labels we’ve talked about, but if I am being honest, the best label or packaging type for summer is flexible packaging.  Flex Pack is all about convenience, and if there is one thing consumers want during the summer, it’s the ease of use of on-the-go products.  Flexible packaging can come in all shapes and sizes and checks the box for almost every market.  You will find flexible packaging everywhere as you are on your summer vacation. You’ll find yourself tearing open single-use flavor packets to enhance your water, on-the-go applesauce pouches for your kids, and let’s not forget the stand-up pouches that hold the snacks we’re taking to the beach or baseball games.  One of the largest advantages of flexible packaging is its more sustainable nature.  For example, check out the sustainable assessment of the baby food options and how it compares a rigid container to a flexible package, and the benefits it provides to the environment: FPA – Baby Food Infographic

Inland prides itself on its constant innovation and investigation into delivering the sustainable label and packaging options consumers seek on the products they buy.. While we could keep talking about these unique label types and the sustainable benefits of each, we’ll leave you with these five for the sake of this blog post’s length.

Until then, don’t forget that just because we’ve said these unique labels (and packaging) types have typical uses doesn’t mean your brand couldn’t think up a more creative way to utilize them. Share your ideas with us or request some free samples today.