The Growing Shrink Label

OPP is another viable, low-cost, environmentally-conscience film alternative. But the substrate is limited to low shrink applications of less than 25 percent, making it better suited to be used as roll-fed, wrap-around shrink labels like those that decorate Kool-Aid containers, rather than as shrink sleeves used on fancily-shaped bottles. Brown explained, "The existing adhesive technology for wrap-around applications favor OPP in this market due to the fact OPP is a lower shrink product. High shrink products—PET, PVC, and OPS—cause the adhesive to be pulled and stressed at the point where the label is adhered to itself. When the adhesive is pulled, it exposes the adhesive to dirt and other contaminants, or it may cause the label to stick to the cases it is packaged in."