Resources
Back

How a Circular Economy Supports Label Sustainability

In recent years, sustainability has become a buzz word across nearly every industry—and for good reason. There is a huge demand for it among increasingly eco-conscious consumers who care more about the sourcing, quality and manufacturing of their products than ever before.

This sustainability revolution is led by a younger generation of consumers with high income levels who are willing to pay more for eco-friendly goods. According to the 2021 Buying Green Report, 83% of consumers aged 44 and under will pay extra for sustainable product packaging. To add to this, nearly 80% of millennials are loyal to brands that reduce their environmental footprint.

As a result of this consumer demand, sustainable products have grown 2.7 times faster than traditional goods—despite the higher price premiums over their conventional counterparts. A recent McKinsey study even revealed that 79% of consumers report sustainable packaging as a driving force behind their purchasing decisions.

This trend has spurred greater innovation across the product label and packaging industry, as brands increasingly make this shift toward more sustainable solutions. When it comes to labels in particular, embracing a circular economy can make your products more appealing to consumers.

A Look at the Circular Economy of Labels

So, what exactly is a circular economy? And how does it enhance the sustainability of product labels and packaging? In a world where resources are diminishing and more waste is being produced than ever before, a circular economy provides the foundation for a sustainable future.

With a circular economy, the focus is on closing the loop of sustainability in product packaging design. This is achieved through the recycling and reuse of waste materials in order to extend the life cycle of products and minimize waste production as much as possible.

As it relates to product labels, there are five main pillars of the circular economy model:

  1. Create “greener” label solutions
  2. Use more sustainable production processes
  3. Extend the life cycle of your labels
  4. Collect waste materials at end of life
  5. Reuse and recycle into new label solutions

Sustainable Labels That Support a Circular Economy

From labels that promote recyclability and FSC-certified paper, to recycled content liners and PCW facestocks, ID Images offers a wide variety of sustainable label solutions that help our customers and their end users shrink the overall carbon footprint of their product packaging materials—supporting a more sustainable, circular economy.

Below are several popular eco-friendly label options:

  • FSC-certified paper facestocks have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®(FSC) and are ensured to be responsibly sourced. This certification helps manage forests in a way that is environmentally conscious, as well as socially and economically beneficial.
  • Recyclable PET container labels are designed to support PET plastic recycling. The label stays in place throughout the product lifecycle, then fully separates from the PET surface during the recycling process. Producing pure PET flakes results in the conservation of virgin PET resources and less landfill waste.
  • Offered across a broad range of label products, recycled content liners are a solution that contain 30% PCW from recycled PET bottles. This helps to reduce landfill waste, without compromising on performance and quality.
  • Constructed to be up to 50% thinner than conventional materials, thin paper, film, and thermal-paper labels help conserve limited natural resources, reduce changeovers, and cut down on storage and transportation—thereby shrinking the carbon footprint.
  • Helping to divert landfill waste with 40% more labels per roll, linerless labels consist of a direct thermal top-coated facestock and pressure-sensitive adhesive. They are ideal for use at grocery stores, distribution warehouses and e-commerce businesses.

Want More Sustainable Labels for Your Product Packaging?

Contact our customer service team at (866) 516-7300 or customerservice@idimages.com.