What are the best types of labels for clear food packaging?

Clear packaging is synonymous with food. These glass or plastic packages improve freshness and safety and, critically, allow customers to see inside.

Clear packaging also opens up unique label possibilities. But what types of labels are best for clear packaging?

The many reasons to use clear packaging for food

Clear containers can be used for everything from condiments to baked goods to fresh produce and microgreens.

There are many reasons to use clear packaging for your food products:

• Trust. Transparent packaging reveals to customers exactly what they’re purchasing.
• Freshness. Plastic packaging resists heat and repels microorganisms, which keeps food fresh.
• Sustainability. Glass containers can be recycled with any kind of label.
• Flexibility. Clear plastic packaging has many versatile design forms, such as clear folding cartons and window boxes, and can be printed with a variety of patterns, imagery and colors.

The trick is finding the label type that best compliments clear food packaging, as well as how to apply them seamlessly.

Finding a balance is key

Finding the balance between label and packaging is key to making your food product stand out on the shelf. White or full color labels are one presentation option for clear food packaging and have many advantages:

Here are some of the innovative solutions available:

• Vital Information. Full color labels can clearly convey details like brand messaging, contents, ingredients, QR codes and more.
• Grabs attention. A packaging label with bright and vibrant colors gets more attention.
• Brand identity. Wide variety of color options allows you to stay consistent with your brand and boost brand recognition.

Using clear pressure-sensitive film labels is another option for clear packaging.

“Color labels on plastic packaging reduce the possibility of recycling and cover up the product inside the packaging,” says Aaron Kilgore, Regional VP of Sales for Resource Label Group. “Although aesthetics is important, consumer tastes are trending more toward sustainability, quality and transparency.”

Offering an obstructed view

Clear product film labels combined with clear packaging offer a streamlined look for food products. Here’s a few design concepts of clear film label techniques for clear packaging:

• No-label look. Packaging that appears to lack the seams of a label will catch consumers’ eyes. This clean and sleek look lets you highlight the product itself.
• Reverse print. This form of two-sided label can be read through the product and creates a viewfinder effect for products. When a clamshell package is opened more information can be read on the inside, which is an efficient use of label space.
• Window boxes. Instead of physically cutting a window, parts of a label are left blank while the print forms the frame around it. The clear film label lets you achieve the viewfinder effect without actually using a custom-cut label. Shoppers can see the food and peer through the clear window to confirm quality.

The challenges of applying clear film labels to clear packaging

Applying clear film labels on products at the production facility requires care and expertise.

“Application equipment is used to apply film labels while avoiding fingerprints,” says Natalie Taylor, Outside Sales Representative for Taylor Made, a Resource Label Group company. “Depending on the surface tension of the material, the coatings on it and the adhesive paired to it, labels might not apply cleanly. The end result can be air bubbles or wrinkles in the label.”

Companies must weigh all of these things when choosing their label materials and adhesives. Working with an experienced label partner will help you pick the best combination for your products.

“If you want color labels on clear containers, we can work with you on the opacity level that makes the best color for your food product. If you want color or clear film labels, we can match adhesives and products to make your food packaging more recyclable,” says Taylor. “And we consult at every step of the production process to ensure your labels perform without any imperfections.”

Ready to revolutionize your labels?

Reach out to our skilled team at Resource Label Group to find out how we can help your branding reach the next level. Together, we can create a beautiful label that helps tell your company’s story to the world.