Shrink sleeve labels are a type of label made from plastic film as the base material, which closely adheres to the surface of containers through heat shrinking. They are widely used in packaging fields such as beverages, food, cosmetics, and daily necessities. Their core feature is the ability to perfectly fit the shape of the container (including curved surfaces, edges, and special-shaped structures) while combining decorative and functional properties.

Core Principle

The base material of heat-shrinkable labels undergoes 'biaxial stretching' during production (molecular chains are forcibly stretched and set), forming a film with a 'memory effect'. During use, the label is pre-fabricated into a size slightly larger than the container (sleeved over the container). Through heating methods such as hot air, hot water, or infrared rays, the film molecules return to their original contracted state, thereby tightly adhering to the container surface and achieving a wrinkle-free and seamless adherence effect.

Common Base Materials

Different materials vary in shrinkage rate, transparency, and environmental friendliness, with differences in applicable scenarios:

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Commonly used in the early days, it has a high shrinkage rate (transverse shrinkage rate can reach 50%-60%) and low cost. However, it has poor environmental friendliness (difficult to recycle) and is gradually being replaced.

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Including PETG (modified PET), it has a moderate shrinkage rate (30%-50%), high transparency, good temperature resistance, and is recyclable. In line with environmental trends, it is currently the mainstream material (e.g., labels for cola and mineral water bottles).

OPS (Oriented Polystyrene): It has excellent transparency and a high shrinkage rate (over 50% in the transverse direction). Its printing colors are vibrant, making it suitable for high decorative requirements (e.g., cosmetic bottles), but it has slightly poor low-temperature resistance.