Overcome Shipping Label Challenges with PSAs 

To help package delivery companies increase package reusability, they need to use a shipping label adhesive that is reliable for multiple substrates, including corrugate, plastic, film and paper. If the adhesive is not compatible with one or more of these substrates, it may prevent a package from being reusable and contributing to the circular economy. Additionally, it can increase delivery costs for companies, as they may need to seek alternative packaging options or find new shipping label adhesives that align with each package substrate. 

What the Right PSA Formulation Should Provide:

It’s important to select PSA technologies that are specifically formulated for a wide application range. This will help ensure the PSA can adhere to multiple substrates, including corrugate, plastic, film and paper needed for package delivery companies. Some capabilities to consider in your PSA technology to achieve compatibility include: 

• Strong tack: PSA technologies with excellent tack help improve bonding for difficult-to-bond and low surface energy substrates, such as highly recycled corrugate, by enabling quick, high-strength adhesion. 
• Peel adhesion: If the package delivery company is reusing a package, it may have more uneven surfaces than it did during its initial use. Peel adhesion helps the label adhesive conform to any irregularities in the surface to help ensure maximum contact.  

A PSA technology with these features can reduce delivery costs as well as streamline the overall production time for packaging. This is because companies can depend on a single shipping label adhesive solution for all their substrates. Further, it can help prevent slow-downs in choosing a compatible package structure to reuse for a product and reduce the risk of a shipping label coming off during transport. If you as the converter have companies that are relying on you for one shipping label that works with all their substrates, it’s important to also consider a PSA technology that helps you run efficient processes to keep up with demand by offering: 

• Broad application usage: A PSA technology with flexibility can help you address numerous application needs on one production line,  allowing you to streamline processes and maximize production efficiency. This can help you rely on one PSA technology to reduce overall changeouts and energy usage in your facility, which also serves to decrease costs. 
• Fast setup times: Utilizing PSAs that are quick to cool and solidify allows you to handle the material faster for the next set of production steps without added downtime compared to other options. This helps create efficient assembly process times so you can achieve a high throughput rate. 

Compatible with facestock on direct thermal paper, both waterborne acrylic and hot melt PSAs can help you address the noted challenges of substrate compatibility and temperature.  

Waterborne acrylic PSAs are a solventless solution commonly used for shipping label applications. As an emulsion formulation, they build adhesion over time, enabling an easy peel. They have very high tack and rapid wet out on rough surfaces, allowing for a wide application range including low surface energy package structures. Due to their low temperature bonding, waterborne acrylic PSAs also enable high coating speeds for various coating equipment such as slot die and reverse gravure, helping you reduce downtime and deliver shipping labels at high volumes. Waterborne acrylic PSAs provide a wide range of temperature solutions to enhance performance in changing climate conditions.  

Hot melt PSAs offer another reliable option in manufacturing shipping labels to help increase package circular recycling. Comprised of 100% solids, hot melt PSAs can be reheated and reused if desired, helping contribute to recyclability efforts. They also offer wide application usage with strong tack and peel adhesion, especially for difficult-to-bond substrates such as corrugate or post-consumer recycled content. Hot melt PSAs provide fast set up times to streamline assembly processes, and they can incorporate bio-based raw materials to further enhance the packaging’s overall sustainability if desired. They offer a wide temperature range with the ability to adhere in refrigerated or freezer temperature conditions.