The Growing Shrink Label

Material matters: alternatives to PVC

OPS is widely used in Japan and throughout Europe because of its "green" properties, said Copenhaver. Currently, PVC is banned in Japan where OPS holds about 70 percent of the shrink label market. However, it won't be long before the material takes off in the United States, and it won't be because of environmental benefits alone, she added. "OPS can shrink up to 80 percent with a more controlled shrink curve than PETG. The density of OPS is more than 20 percent less than PVC and PETG, giving it a tremendous cost advantage over PETG and a slight advantage over PVC."