Label and Sticker Specification Guide: Adhesive, Material and Surface

A label is a small part of a product, but it is often the part that causes complaints: edges lifting in a chiller, ink rubbing off in transit, or a sticker that will not release from a glass bottle. The three decisions that matter most are the face material, the adhesive and how the label is applied.

Start with the surface

Before discussing artwork, describe the surface the label will sit on:

• Glass, including whether the bottle is returned and washed
• Rigid plastics such as PET, PP or HDPE, including recycled content
• Flexible films and pouches
• Coated, uncoated or recycled paper and board
• Metal, painted metal or powder-coated surfaces
• Textured or low-energy surfaces, which often need a high-tack adhesive

Low-surface-energy plastics and rough surfaces are the most common sources of label failure. If in doubt, ask the supplier to send samples for testing before the full run.

Face materials and where they fit

• Coated paper: economical, prints well, suited to dry environments.
• Uncoated and textured paper: a natural look for craft and premium goods.
• Polypropylene (PP): moisture resistant and durable, a common choice for bottles and household products.
• PET: tough and dimensionally stable, useful for durable and industrial labels.
• Transparent films: a no-label look on clear containers.
• Metallised and foil-look stocks: reflective finishes for premium positioning.
• Kraft and recycled stocks: suited to sustainability-led packaging, when they meet the surface and durability requirements.

Choosing the adhesive

Adhesive choice follows the surface, the temperature and the label life:

• Permanent adhesives for most retail applications
• Removable or peelable adhesives for promotions and reuse
• Freezer and chilled-grade adhesives for cold-chain products
• High-tack adhesives for low-energy plastics and textured surfaces
• Wash-off adhesives for returnable bottles that are cleaned before relabelling
• Tamper-evident or security constructions where the label must show interference

Ask how the label behaves at the temperatures of storage, transport and use, not only at room temperature.

Printing and finishing

• Digital printing suits short runs, versioned artwork and fast sampling.
• Flexo and offset suit larger runs and consistent spot colours.
• Spot colour and cold foil can carry brand colour without heavy process builds.
• Matte or gloss varnish and lamination change both feel and scuff resistance.
• Consider whether the label needs to accept handwriting or thermal printing.

Durability questions worth asking

• Will the label be exposed to water, oil, alcohol or cleaning agents?
• Is the product stored in a chiller, freezer or humid warehouse?
• Will the container be refilled or returned?
• Does the label need UV resistance for outdoor or window display?
• Are there recycling requirements that affect the choice of material and adhesive?

Formats, dies and winding

• Confirm whether labels are supplied on rolls or sheets, and how they will be applied.
• Agree the die shape and check the minimum label size against the web width.
• Confirm winding direction, core size and labels per roll for your applicator.
• For small labels, check that the layout still allows clean die-cutting and easy peeling.

Specification checklist

• Surface material and condition
• Container size and label placement
• Face material
• Adhesive type
• Print method and colour references
• Finishing and varnish
• Temperature range in storage and use
• Roll or sheet format, core size, winding direction
• Quantity, plus allowance for setup waste
• Test sample before the production run

A short test with real containers usually answers more questions than a long specification discussion. Ask for a small sample run, apply the labels under normal conditions, and keep the approved sample as the reference for future orders.

Key figures and tolerances

• Face stock: paper 60–90 g/m² (ISO 536), PP 50–80 µm, PET 36–50 µm.
• Peel adhesion at 180 °: 4–10 N/25 mm on steel (FINAT FTM 1 / PSTC-101).
• Surface energy needed for a reliable bond: 38 dyn/cm or more; prime or use a high-tack adhesive below that.
• Minimum application temperature: 5–10 °C standard, -20 °C for freezer adhesives.
• Die-cut gap: 2–3 mm between labels for clean matrix stripping.
• Finished gloss (ISO 2813, 60 °): matte 5–15 GU, gloss 60–80 GU.
• Ranges are typical industry values for the material or process named and are not a specification; confirm the exact value, the current edition of each standard and the applicable grade with your supplier or test laboratory.