Paper to Stay Strong

"Some significant attributes that drive the success and huge presence of utilizing paper in labeling applications are: cost-effective performance, print quality, printing and converting friendliness, fit-for-use, range of performance, product variety, opacity, and flexibility," said Berger.

Paper-based labels have long dominated prime product applications and will continue to do so, agreed Shawn Easter, marketing manager, Acucote Inc. "Current equipment and tooling are set to run paper on paper constructions efficiently at high speeds. Until another substrate can compete on the basis of supply and pure cost, paper will remain a top substrate," he said. "Film materials are decreasing in cost and eating into the market share of paper, but are still regarded as 'a step up' in end-use performance."