A paper bag that goes into the paper bin with a film sticker on it is no longer a simple paper item. A PET tub with a PVC label is a different problem again. Labels are small, but they are a second material on nearly every pack, and recyclers, auditors and increasingly regulators judge the pack as a whole. This guide explains how labels and adhesives behave in paper and plastic recycling, which constructions to avoid, what the PPWR changes, and what to ask a label supplier for. It is part of the custom printed stickers and labels hub.
Do labels stop packaging from being recycled?
Not necessarily. A suitable label on a pack made of the same or a compatible material usually has little effect, while an unsuitable one can cause rejects, contamination or lower-quality material. What counts is the combination of label material, adhesive, size, coverage and pack material.
The same label can be harmless on one pack and a problem on another. A paper label with a recyclable adhesive on a paper bag is the simplest case. A thick PVC label on a PET bottle, or a metallised film label on a paper box, is the kind of mismatch that causes trouble. The aim is a label that separates cleanly in the recycling process or is compatible with the pack material.
How do labels behave in paper recycling?
In paper recycling, the pack is pulped in water and screened. Paper labels pulp with the pack; film labels, foil and some adhesives do not and are screened out as rejects, which can also catch fibre with them. Adhesive that breaks into small sticky particles (often called stickies) can deposit on machinery and spot paper.
What helps:
- Paper face stock rather than film, on paper packs.
- Adhesives designed to be removed in the process, or that fragment into particles large enough to screen out rather than disperse.
- Small labels with limited area compared with the pack.
- No foil, metallised film or heavy lamination on the label.
- Evidence: INGEDE Method 12 assesses whether an adhesive application breaks into particles large enough to be screened out in paper recycling, and is widely used by label makers and paper recyclers. Ask the supplier whether the exact construction has been tested and for the result.
A small paper seal on a paper bag is the most favourable case: little area, the same fibre as the pack, and an adhesive that can be tested. A film label on a paper bag is the first thing to change in a recycling-led programme.
How do labels behave in plastic recycling?
In plastic recycling, packs are shredded, washed and separated, often by density in a float-sink tank. Labels whose material floats or sinks the same way as the pack contaminate the stream, while labels that separate cleanly or are removed in the wash do not. The label should either be the same polymer family as the pack, or separate easily from it.
Typical densities (approximate) show why material matters:
| Material | Approximate density | Behaviour in a float-sink tank |
|---|---|---|
| PP, PE | Below 1 g/cm³ | Float |
| PET | About 1.4 g/cm³ | Sinks |
| PVC | About 1.4 g/cm³ | Sinks, with PET; a recognised contaminant |
For PET bottles and tubs, PP or PE labels float away from the denser PET flake, while PVC labels sink with it and are a contaminant. Paper labels need removal in the wash. Labels with wash-off adhesive release in the hot alkaline wash, so they come off the pack cleanly. For mono-material PE pouches and similar packs, a PE label on a PE pack keeps the material stream consistent; see recyclable mono-material pouches.
Industry bodies publish design guidance and test protocols for specific streams, such as RecyClass in Europe and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) in the US. Ask whether the proposed construction has been assessed under the guidance that matches your pack and market.
What are wash-off labels?
Wash-off labels use an adhesive that releases in the hot caustic wash of a recycling plant, so the label comes off the container and leaves clean flake. They are designed for plastic bottles and similar packs, and for returnable glass bottles, where labels must come off before refilling or reprocessing.
They are not a general substitute for good label choice. They are specified for the container and the stream, and are only effective if the wash conditions at the recycler match what the adhesive was designed for. Use a wash-off adhesive where the label and pack go to a wash-based process; use a paper face and a paper-recycling adhesive on paper packs.
Which label constructions should I avoid?
Avoid constructions that add a second material that the pack's stream cannot remove. For paper packs, avoid film labels, foil and metallised labels. For plastic packs, avoid PVC labels and heavy full-coverage films on PET. Where unavoidable, document why.
| Pack | Better choice | Avoid or check |
|---|---|---|
| Paper bag or paper-based pack | Paper label, recyclable adhesive, thin varnish | Film label, foil, metallised film, thick lamination |
| Corrugated or board box | Paper label, small area | Large plastic-film labels |
| PET bottle or tub | PP or PE label, or wash-off labelling | PVC; metallised film; non-wash-off adhesives on paper labels |
| PE pouch or bag (mono-material) | PE label or small PE-compatible label | Mixed-material labels and metallised film |
| Glass jar or bottle | Paper label with wash-off adhesive (returnable) or standard recycling-compatible label | Heavy foil or plastic labels if the glass goes to remelt |
These are starting points. Local collection systems and recyclers differ, so verify them for the markets you sell in.
Does it help to print directly on the pack instead of using a label?
Often yes. Direct printing adds ink but no second substrate, no adhesive and no liner, which makes recycling simpler and removes label waste. A sticker remains the better choice for variable data, short runs and mixed products on one stock pack.
The release liner is an extra waste stream that sits outside the pack. Roll liners are usually discarded after application, and in some places can be recycled through specialist schemes. If label waste is a concern, ask the supplier about liner material and any take-back option, and consider printing branding directly on the pack and reserving labels for the variable data. The hub page on custom printed stickers and labels sets out when a sticker beats a printed pack.
What does the PPWR change for labels?
Under the PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40), packaging must be designed for recycling, and labels are part of the packaging whose recyclability is assessed. Annex I of the Regulation lists "sticky labels attached to another packaging item" and "labels hung directly on or attached to a product" as packaging. The design-for-recycling criteria are due in 2028, and from 1 January 2030 packaging must reach recyclability grade A, B or C, with grades A and B required from 2038 (see PPWR recyclability grades explained). Specific labelling criteria have not yet been adopted, so no grade can be asserted for a given label today.
Other points that touch labels:
- Compostable formats: under Article 9, only tea, coffee and other beverage bags and single-serve units, and sticky labels on fruit and vegetables, are required to be compostable; other packaging must be recyclable. A compostable label belongs on a compostable pack, not a recyclable one.
- Sorting label: the harmonised material sorting label required by Article 12 is a pack-level duty; see PPWR labelling requirements. A sticker with a recycling symbol does not make a pack compliant by itself.
- EPR fees: in schemes that modulate fees by recyclability, a label that worsens a pack's recyclability can raise cost.
- Role: the party responsible depends on the economic operator's role (manufacturer, producer, importer), and should be confirmed with the competent authority or compliance scheme.
For the wider picture, see PPWR explained for buyers.
Can I print "recyclable" on a sticker?
Only if the claim is accurate for the pack and the market, and substantiated. A generic claim such as "recyclable" or "eco-friendly" printed on a label is an environmental claim in its own right. In the EU, the Empowering Consumers Directive (EU) 2024/825 applies from 27 September 2026 and restricts generic environmental claims; in the UK, the CMA's Green Claims Code and the DMCC Act 2024 apply; in the US, the FTC Green Guides (16 CFR 260) govern.
A label does not make a pack recyclable, and a "recyclable" sticker on a pack that is not collected locally can mislead. Be specific (for example, "paper bag: recycle with paper where facilities exist") and see recyclable, compostable and biodegradable packaging before printing any green wording. Labelling rules differ by market; in the UK, mandatory recyclability labels have been deferred, and the voluntary OPRL scheme exists.
What should I ask a label supplier about recyclability?
Ask for the construction, the evidence and the limits, in writing.
- Full construction: face material, adhesive type, liner, inks, varnish or laminate, and any foil or metallised layer.
- Test evidence: which recyclability protocol the construction was tested under, when, on which pack type, and the result.
- Pack match: confirmation that the construction suits your pack material and the stream it goes to.
- Adhesive behaviour: whether it is wash-off, removable in paper recycling, or neither.
- Size and coverage assumptions behind any test.
- Liner material and options.
- Change control: notice if the supplier changes material or adhesive.
Record the answers in the technical file behind your packaging documentation; see PPWR declaration of conformity. Material choices that influence this are covered in sticker and label materials, and finishes in label finishes.
What to send for a quotation
Send the pack, the stream it should recycle in and the recycling requirement, so the supplier can propose a construction and the evidence for it:
- Pack material and construction, and the market and collection stream it should recycle in
- Recyclability goal (for example, paper stream, PET bottle stream, mono-PE), and any grade or scheme target
- Label size, area on the pack and format
- Face stock preference and adhesive requirements
- Print and finish requirements, noting any limits on foil, lamination or metallised film
- Documentation required: test evidence, adhesive statement, construction sheet
- Quantity per design and destination markets
Send the specification to 9 Packaging; constructions and supporting documents are confirmed at quotation and technical review. The packaging RFQ guide covers the rest of a complete request.