PLA Shrink Labels Meet Environmental, Economic Challenges

A new, renewable and economically stable plant-based technology that replaces traditional petroleumbased shrink labels is labeling made from PolyLactic Acid (PLA). The bio-based shrink labels and tamper-evident bands made from PLA are a natural option that can reinforce the purity, natural and close to nature commitment and positioning of natural product and nutritional supplement brands.

Brand marketers are responding to retailer and consumer requests for products that use sustainable packaging, and PLA shrink labels, made from a compostable corn-based resin, are one answer. In addition to its certified compostability, PLA labels and T-E bands present an attractive, lower-cost benefit. Because the resin-producing for PLA process uses cornstarch as the primary material, it requires 66-percent less fossil fuel to produce than its petroleum-based counterpart.

The shrink response at lower heat levels requires less heat and less dwell timeand therefore less energyto shrink the label onto the package.

As with all new products, there are always challenges. In the case of EarthFirst PLA, suppliers should be careful not to view PLA film as a drop-in replacement for petrol-based films.

The shrink curve of PLA is faster and more powerful than PVC, OPS or PETG film. Less energy is used in the application process, and lower heat can allow for use of thinner walled containers. In fact, processing at the higher temperatures that are typically used on a PVC or PETG may cause container distortion on a thinner-walled container. It is recommended that full body sleeves be applied after product filling, or by steam, to minimize damage to containers during the sleeve application.

Further, some handling modifications may be required, due to its inherently brittle nature and because PLA generates more static than its counterparts. However, a recently approved, new grade of PLA film may alleviate some of the brittleness and static issues. Some clear applications may require use of an anti-static coating and printing the sleeve in full color or even one color to help alleviate static.

The true impact of earth-friendly initiatives is that they lead to earth-altering discoveries. Having a light environmental impact, PLA will return to the earth as a bio-based resource it is a small measure in the overall choice to be a greener society.

Future endeavors from Gilbreth Packaging include working with other developmental films made from starch-based biopolymers, biopolymer resin blends, and specialty additives that render petroleum-based resins biodegradable.

Sustainability is not just a buzzword, but also a movement for change. Started by retailers, sustainable packaging is now embraced by consumer product companies. Companies must look at their environmental footprint. Since packaging makes such a large contribution to waste sites and landfills, it is a logical starting point for sustainability. A detailed life-cycle analysis from a products generation to its ultimate disposal by the end user can help identify areas to reduce resources consumed at every step.

Theresa Sykes has been in the label and label stock industry for over 18 years , most recently with Gilbreth Packaging (www.gilbrethusa.com ) for the past three years. As product development manager, Sykes efforts have concentrated on bringing existing label technology to the shrink sleeve industry. Sykes has a bachelors of science degree from York College of Pennsylvania, and is working on her MBA in marketing at Philadelphia University.