When you think of durable, hard-wearing, moisture-resistant labels, do you think of vinyl labels? Many people do. But you may actually want labels made out of plastic BOPP instead, which is easier to apply and practically indestructible. How does BOPP measure up to vinyl? Here's what you need to know in order to choose the right labels for your product.
What are vinyl labels?
Vinyl is a type of plastic made from ethylene (which comes from crude oil) and chlorine (from salt). Technically, it's called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. It's commonly used in construction materials.
Vinyl is also sometimes used to make bumper stickers. But because vinyl labels are 4 mil thick (nearly twice the thickness of BOPP labels), they don't work as well in label application systems. That makes them more difficult to apply.
Vinyl is more rigid and less pliable than BOPP, so it doesn't apply as well to small or curved containers. You also need to use a much more aggressive adhesive to get vinyl labels to stick to smaller containers, and that can cause headaches in the application process.
Then there’s the unavoidable rubber-like smell of vinyl, which some customers find off-putting. It's not generally recommended for use on food products or any products that will be kept inside the home.
In the long run, vinyl labels are also more expensive than BOPP labels, which can put a dent in your budget.
Wizard Labels recommends BOPP labels instead of vinyl labels.
Vinyl is just fine for flooring and house siding. But as you can see, it's not a great choice for labels. It's too thick for most applicators, it doesn't adhere well, it smells bad, and it is more expensive than BOPP.
BOPP (Biaxially Oriented PolyPropylene) labels are made of durable thin plastic film specifically designed for product labels. It has all of the hard-wearing advantages of vinyl without any of the drawbacks. Plus, BOPP prints better, adheres better, and helps save you money.
Why not try our BOPP labels and decide for yourself? Request a free label sample pack now.