For some products, packaging has to do more than hold the product and carry the brand. It also plays a role in protecting what is inside.

Vitamins and supplements are one example. Depending on the formulation, light exposure may be a consideration in product stability and shelf-life requirements. Brands may address that through a colored or opaque container—but the bottle does not have to be evaluated separately from the rest of the package.

For applicable package designs, Fortis can help evaluate shrink-sleeve approaches intended to limit light penetration. That creates an interesting question for brands: could a clear container and a light-limiting shrink sleeve work together as the protective and decorative packaging system?

The answer depends on the product.

Why Light Protection Matters

Light can affect the stability of certain ingredients and formulations. The amount of protection required varies based on the product, the wavelengths involved, expected exposure, distribution conditions and required shelf life.

That makes “light barrier” a performance requirement, not simply a packaging feature.

Before changing a bottle or sleeve, a brand needs to understand what the product actually requires. A vitamin or supplement that is particularly sensitive to light may need a different package construction than a product with limited sensitivity.

The package should be built around those requirements—not the other way around.

Why Brands Use Colored Or Opaque Containers

Colored and opaque containers can serve a functional purpose by helping control how much light reaches the product.

That means bottle color is not always an aesthetic decision. It may be part of the product-protection strategy.

Brands have traditionally addressed light sensitivity through colored or opaque containers. However, product protection can also be evaluated at the package-system level rather than through the bottle alone.

But packaging requirements rarely stay static. Brands may want to reconsider container choices because of sourcing, SKU complexity, design flexibility, recyclability goals or evolving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) considerations.

If the container changes, however, the product still needs the required protection. That protection has to be addressed elsewhere in the finished package.

Can The Shrink Sleeve Become Part Of The Barrier Strategy?

A full-body shrink sleeve covers substantially more of a container than a conventional front-and-back label. That coverage creates opportunities beyond decoration.

Fortis can help evaluate shrink-sleeve options designed to limit light penetration for applicable package designs. For some brands, that may create an opportunity to evaluate a clear container paired with a sleeve that contributes to the required light protection.

Depending on the coating technology and package design, shrink sleeves can be engineered to reduce UV transmission, visible light transmission, or both.

The important word is “evaluate.”

A shrink sleeve should not be assumed to replace a colored or opaque bottle simply because it covers the container. The required protection depends on the formulation, container, sleeve construction, coverage and shelf-life requirements.

The effectiveness of a shrink sleeve light-barrier solution depends on the product’s sensitivity, barrier requirements, package geometry, and the level of light protection needed.

Clear Bottle + Shrink Sleeve: Why Brands Are Evaluating The Combination

Fortis is already working with customers evaluating whether they can move away from certain colored bottles and instead use clear containers paired with shrink sleeves.

There are several reasons the combination can be worth exploring.

A full-body sleeve provides 360-degree printable space, allowing the bottle and decoration to work together visually. A clear base container may also give brands another variable to evaluate as they consider sourcing, package design and SKU strategies.

A brand can potentially use one clear bottle, multiple SKUs, different graphics, and different barrier levels without maintaining separate colored bottle inventories.

For light-sensitive products, the sleeve can potentially take on an additional job: helping limit light penetration.

For some applications, a clear PET container paired with a specialty shrink sleeve may provide both product protection and the design flexibility of a transparent package platform.

The sustainability side requires more nuance. A clear container with a shrink sleeve is not automatically a more recyclable or lower-impact package. Bottle resin and color, sleeve material, ink system, coverage, separation behavior and the recycling infrastructure where the package is discarded can all affect the result.

Product Protection Comes First

A packaging redesign only works if the new package continues to protect the product as required.

Before moving from a colored or opaque bottle to a clear-container + shrink-sleeve construction, brands should establish the required light protection and validate the finished package against the product’s stability and shelf-life requirements.

That evaluation may include:

• Product or formulation sensitivity
• Required light-transmission performance
• Shelf-life targets
• Storage and distribution conditions
• Container material
• Sleeve construction and coverage
• Application and production requirements

Product testing should validate that the overall package system provides the required level of protection.

The sustainability or branding benefits of a packaging change do not outweigh product protection. Those goals have to work together.

Designing The Bottle And Shrink Sleeve As One Packaging System

The strongest package-design decisions happen when the bottle and sleeve are evaluated together.

Container material and shape affect sleeve selection and shrink performance. Sleeve coverage and construction affect decoration and potentially light exposure. Inks and finishes influence the visual result. Application equipment determines how the sleeve performs on the production line. Material choices can also influence recycling and EPR considerations.

Fortis approaches shrink sleeves around the finished package rather than treating the sleeve as a standalone label.

For a light-sensitive product, that means asking several questions at once: What does the formulation require? Which container is being used? How much coverage is needed? What sleeve construction will perform correctly? How will the package perform during production and distribution?

Learn more about Fortis shrink sleeve labels and how they can be evaluated as part of a complete packaging system.

How To Reduce EPR Packaging Fees Without Compromising Product Protection

Brands are under growing pressure to reduce packaging material, improve recyclability and account for packaging under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.

That can make “use less packaging” sound like the obvious sustainability strategy. In reality, the equation is more complicated.

Packaging has a job. For food and other sensitive products, it may need to control moisture or oxygen, manage gas exchange, protect against light, maintain freshness or withstand a demanding distribution environment. Remove the wrong material or component and the result can be a shorter shelf life or more product waste.

A better goal is to optimize the package: understand what every component is doing, preserve the performance the product requires and identify where material, weight, complexity or EPR exposure can be reduced.

Start With The Job The Package Has To Do

Before asking how much material can be removed, ask what the package needs to accomplish.

Depending on the product, those requirements can include maintaining freshness and shelf life, providing moisture or oxygen barriers, protecting against light, surviving filling and distribution, running correctly on packaging equipment and communicating required information to the customer.

Those functions establish the baseline.

From there, brands can evaluate whether the same performance can be achieved with a lighter structure, different material, fewer components or a more recycling-compatible design.

Lightweighting is only successful if the redesigned package still does its job.

Less Packaging Doesn’t Always Mean Less Waste

Food makes the tradeoff particularly easy to see.

Packaging material has an environmental impact, but the food inside the package required resources to grow or manufacture, process, transport and store. If a packaging change causes that food to spoil sooner, reducing a few grams of packaging material may create another form of waste.

That does not mean every layer or component should stay. It means brands need to understand why it is there before removing it.

Several familiar food packages demonstrate just how much engineering can be hidden inside something consumers barely notice.

The Salad Bag Is A Packaging Science Problem

A bag of salad looks simple. The product inside it is not.

Fresh produce continues to respire after harvest, exchanging gases with the environment around it. Packaging for fresh produce can therefore be designed around factors such as gas transmission, moisture and the needs of the particular product.

The package has to create an environment that supports the required freshness and shelf life without preventing the produce from doing what it naturally does.

That makes a produce bag a useful lesson in packaging optimization. A film or layer should not be changed solely because it adds weight. First ask what performance it provides and whether a proposed alternative can deliver the same result.

Why Coffee Bags Have Degassing Valves

Coffee provides another example.

Freshly roasted coffee releases carbon dioxide after roasting. If that gas cannot escape, pressure can build inside a sealed package. At the same time, exposure to outside oxygen can work against freshness.

That is why many coffee packages use one-way degassing valves: they allow internal gas to escape while helping limit outside oxygen from entering the package.

The valve adds another component, but it is there for a reason.

For a brand looking to optimize a coffee package, the useful question is not simply, “Can we eliminate the valve?” It is, “What function is the valve performing, and how would the redesigned package provide that function?”

Fortis offers flexible packaging solutions that can incorporate degassing-valve requirements as part of the complete package design.

Pet Food Bags Show Why Package Structures Can Get Complicated

Pet food packaging can also combine several requirements in one structure.

The package may need to protect freshness, manage moisture and oxygen exposure, survive shipping and handling, and maintain product quality after the consumer brings it home. The original package also carries lot and date information that can be important if a product is recalled.

What looks like “extra packaging” may therefore represent several different functional requirements.

Where EPR Changes The Packaging Conversation

EPR adds a financial dimension to packaging design.

Under EPR programs, producers may be responsible for fees associated with the packaging they introduce into a market. The exact structure varies by jurisdiction, but material choices, package weight and design characteristics can become relevant to cost.

That makes packaging optimization more measurable.

Instead of asking only, “How can we use less packaging?” brands can ask:

What does this package need to do, and where can we reduce unnecessary material, weight or complexity without compromising performance?

Use Fortis’ EPR Calculator To Understand The Current Package

Fortis has developed an internal EPR fee calculator to help customers evaluate their packaging and understand potential fee exposure where calculator data is available.

The calculator is available through the Fortis customer portal and gives brands a practical starting point for packaging conversations.

A team can review the current package, enter the relevant packaging information and estimate applicable EPR fees. From there, Fortis can work with the customer to explore alternative packaging scenarios and identify where changes may make sense.

The calculator does not change the first rule of packaging design: protect the product.

Instead, it adds another data point to the decision. A lower-weight or lower-fee structure is useful only if it still delivers the barrier, shelf-life, production and distribution performance the product requires.

How Fortis Can Look For EPR Optimization Opportunities

Once a brand understands its current package and potential EPR exposure, the next step is to look for meaningful changes rather than simply remove material.

Depending on the application, opportunities may include:

• Eliminating packaging or components that are not necessary
• Lightweighting or right-sizing the package while maintaining performance
• Evaluating recycle-ready material structures
• Increasing post-consumer recycled content where appropriate
• Reviewing label materials and adhesives
• Reconsidering shrink-sleeve material or coverage
• Reducing coatings or laminations that are not required for package performance

Not every strategy applies to every package. The purpose of the exercise is to identify where the package can change without sacrificing what it needs to do.

Five Questions To Ask Before Lightweighting A Package

Before removing a layer, changing a material or redesigning a package, ask:

1. What Function Does Each Layer Or Component Perform?

A layer may provide barrier, strength, sealability, printability or another function that is not obvious from looking at the finished package.

2. What Happens To Product Protection Or Shelf Life If It Changes?

The answer should be based on the actual product and performance requirements.

3. Can The Same Performance Be Achieved With Less Material Or A Different Construction?

This is where material science and packaging expertise can create real optimization opportunities.

4. How Does The Change Affect Recyclability And EPR Fees?

Material weight is only one variable. The complete package design matters.

5. Will The New Package Work In The Real World?

The redesigned structure still needs to run on equipment, survive distribution, protect the product and perform for the consumer.

Optimize The Package, Not Just The Material

A salad bag manages conditions around a living, respiring product. A coffee valve addresses gas released after roasting. A pet food bag may combine barrier, storage and handling requirements in a single structure.

Those examples make an important point: packaging is not just material surrounding a product. It is a system designed to perform specific jobs.

EPR gives brands another reason to examine that system closely.

The opportunity is not to remove as much packaging as possible. It is to identify material or complexity that is not necessary, evaluate better alternatives and preserve the components that protect the product.

Work With Fortis On Packaging And EPR Optimization

Fortis can help brands evaluate both sides of the packaging equation.

Using its EPR calculator where available, Fortis can help customers understand potential packaging fees and identify opportunities to optimize materials, weight and design. At the same time, Fortis’ packaging expertise keeps the product’s actual performance requirements at the center of the conversation.

The result is a more useful sustainability question:

Not “How little packaging can we use?”

But “What is the most efficient package that still does everything this product needs?”

Talk to Fortis About Packaging Optimization

How to Reduce EPR Packaging Fees Without Compromising Product Protection

Brands are under growing pressure to reduce packaging material, improve recyclability and account for packaging under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs.

That can make “use less packaging” sound like the obvious sustainability strategy. In reality, the equation is more complicated.

Packaging has a job. For food and other sensitive products, it may need to control moisture or oxygen, manage gas exchange, protect against light, maintain freshness or withstand a demanding distribution environment. Remove the wrong material or component and the result can be a shorter shelf life or more product waste.

A better goal is to optimize the package: understand what every component is doing, preserve the performance the product requires and identify where material, weight, complexity or EPR exposure can be reduced.

Start With the Job the Package Has to Do

Before asking how much material can be removed, ask what the package needs to accomplish.

Depending on the product, those requirements can include maintaining freshness and shelf life, providing moisture or oxygen barriers, protecting against light, surviving filling and distribution, running correctly on packaging equipment and communicating required information to the customer.

Those functions establish the baseline.

From there, brands can evaluate whether the same performance can be achieved with a lighter structure, different material, fewer components or a more recycling-compatible design.

Lightweighting is only successful if the redesigned package still does its job.

Less Packaging Doesn’t Always Mean Less Waste

Food makes the tradeoff particularly easy to see.

Packaging material has an environmental impact, but the food inside the package required resources to grow or manufacture, process, transport and store. If a packaging change causes that food to spoil sooner, reducing a few grams of packaging material may create another form of waste.

That does not mean every layer or component should stay. It means brands need to understand why it is there before removing it.

Several familiar food packages demonstrate just how much engineering can be hidden inside something consumers barely notice.

The Salad Bag Is a Packaging Science Problem

A bag of salad looks simple. The product inside it is not.

Fresh produce continues to respire after harvest, exchanging gases with the environment around it. Packaging for fresh produce can therefore be designed around factors such as gas transmission, moisture and the needs of the particular product.

The package has to create an environment that supports the required freshness and shelf life without preventing the produce from doing what it naturally does.

That makes a produce bag a useful lesson in packaging optimization. A film or layer should not be changed solely because it adds weight. First ask what performance it provides and whether a proposed alternative can deliver the same result.

Why Coffee Bags Have Degassing Valves

Coffee provides another example.

Freshly roasted coffee releases carbon dioxide after roasting. If that gas cannot escape, pressure can build inside a sealed package. At the same time, exposure to outside oxygen can work against freshness.

That is why many coffee packages use one-way degassing valves: they allow internal gas to escape while helping limit outside oxygen from entering the package.

The valve adds another component, but it is there for a reason.

For a brand looking to optimize a coffee package, the useful question is not simply, “Can we eliminate the valve?” It is, “What function is the valve performing, and how would the redesigned package provide that function?”

Fortis offers flexible packaging solutions that can incorporate degassing-valve requirements as part of the complete package design.

Pet Food Bags Show Why Package Structures Can Get Complicated

Pet food packaging can also combine several requirements in one structure.

The package may need to protect freshness, manage moisture and oxygen exposure, survive shipping and handling, and maintain product quality after the consumer brings it home. The original package also carries lot and date information that can be important if a product is recalled.

What looks like “extra packaging” may therefore represent several different functional requirements.

Where EPR Changes the Packaging Conversation

EPR adds a financial dimension to packaging design.

Under EPR programs, producers may be responsible for fees associated with the packaging they introduce into a market. The exact structure varies by jurisdiction, but material choices, package weight and design characteristics can become relevant to cost.

That makes packaging optimization more measurable.

Instead of asking only, “How can we use less packaging?” brands can ask:

What does this package need to do, and where can we reduce unnecessary material, weight or complexity without compromising performance?

Use Fortis’ EPR Calculator to Understand the Current Package

Fortis has developed an internal EPR fee calculator to help customers evaluate their packaging and understand potential fee exposure where calculator data is available.

The calculator is available through the Fortis customer portal and gives brands a practical starting point for packaging conversations.

A team can review the current package, enter the relevant packaging information and estimate applicable EPR fees. From there, Fortis can work with the customer to explore alternative packaging scenarios and identify where changes may make sense.

The calculator does not change the first rule of packaging design: protect the product.

Instead, it adds another data point to the decision. A lower-weight or lower-fee structure is useful only if it still delivers the barrier, shelf-life, production and distribution performance the product requires.

How Fortis Can Look for EPR Optimization Opportunities

Once a brand understands its current package and potential EPR exposure, the next step is to look for meaningful changes rather than simply remove material.

Depending on the application, opportunities may include:

• Eliminating packaging or components that are not necessary
• Lightweighting or right-sizing the package while maintaining performance
• Evaluating recycle-ready material structures
• Increasing post-consumer recycled content where appropriate
• Reviewing label materials and adhesives
• Reconsidering shrink-sleeve material or coverage
• Reducing coatings or laminations that are not required for package performance

Not every strategy applies to every package. The purpose of the exercise is to identify where the package can change without sacrificing what it needs to do.

Five Questions to Ask Before Lightweighting a Package

Before removing a layer, changing a material or redesigning a package, ask:

1. What function does each layer or component perform?

A layer may provide barrier, strength, sealability, printability or another function that is not obvious from looking at the finished package.

2. What happens to product protection or shelf life if it changes?

The answer should be based on the actual product and performance requirements.

3. Can the same performance be achieved with less material or a different construction?

This is where material science and packaging expertise can create real optimization opportunities.

4. How does the change affect recyclability and EPR fees?

Material weight is only one variable. The complete package design matters.

5. Will the new package work in the real world?

The redesigned structure still needs to run on equipment, survive distribution, protect the product and perform for the consumer.

Optimize the Package, Not Just the Material

A salad bag manages conditions around a living, respiring product. A coffee valve addresses gas released after roasting. A pet food bag may combine barrier, storage and handling requirements in a single structure.

Those examples make an important point: packaging is not just material surrounding a product. It is a system designed to perform specific jobs.

EPR gives brands another reason to examine that system closely.

The opportunity is not to remove as much packaging as possible. It is to identify material or complexity that is not necessary, evaluate better alternatives and preserve the components that protect the product.

Work With Fortis on Packaging and EPR Optimization

Fortis can help brands evaluate both sides of the packaging equation.

Using its EPR calculator where available, Fortis can help customers understand potential packaging fees and identify opportunities to optimize materials, weight and design. At the same time, Fortis’ packaging expertise keeps the product’s actual performance requirements at the center of the conversation.

The result is a more useful sustainability question:

Not “How little packaging can we use?”

But “What is the most efficient package that still does everything this product needs?”

Talk to Fortis About Packaging Optimization

Think about the last time you picked up a bottle of wine you had never tried. Before you knew how it tasted, you had already formed an impression from the bottle, the typography, the colors, the material, and the finish of the label.

That same kind of visual decision-making happens across grocery aisles, beauty shelves, supplement displays, and household products. Packaging is often one of the first ways a consumer experiences a brand, and the label plays a major role in that first impression.

But an effective pressure sensitive label has to do more than look good. It also has to work with the container, hold up in the product’s environment, communicate the right information, and sometimes provide functionality beyond branding.

Fortis Solutions Group produces pressure sensitive labels using Traditional Flexo, Digital, and Hybrid printing technologies, with a wide range of materials, finishes, and functional features designed to support both shelf appeal and real-world performance.

Why Pressure Sensitive Labels Give Brands So Much Design Flexibility

One reason pressure sensitive labels are used across so many product categories is their versatility. The material, adhesive, print method, and finish can all be selected around the package and the way the product will be used.

Fortis supports paper, film, foil, and conformable material options for pressure sensitive prime labels. Each can create a different look and feel while also supporting different performance needs.

A paper label may be appropriate when a brand wants a familiar or textured appearance. Film can be useful when durability, moisture resistance, or conformability is important. Foil can add a premium metallic effect. Conformable materials can help when the package shape or surface requires more flexibility.

The important point is that material choice should not be made on appearance alone. The container surface, product environment, handling, and desired consumer experience all need to be considered together.

Creating a Label Consumers Want to Pick Up

Shelf appeal is not just about using bright colors. It is about creating a package that feels consistent with the product and gives shoppers a reason to notice it.

Pressure sensitive labels give brands a wide range of ways to add visual and tactile interest. Fortis offers specialty finishes and embellishments that include metallic foils, embossing, raised tactile varnishes, rough-touch coatings, and soft-touch coatings. Rotary screen printing can also be used to create unique tactile effects.

For transparent or dark materials, Fortis offers Dyno white to help printed elements stand out. Printing capabilities support up to 10 colors, giving brands flexibility when matching complex artwork or building a more distinctive shelf presence.

These techniques can be especially effective in categories where visual presentation strongly influences purchase decisions, such as wine and spirits, beauty, personal care, specialty food, and premium consumer products.

The goal should not be to add decoration for decoration’s sake. The best embellishments support the brand position and help the package communicate what makes the product different.

When the Label Has a Job Beyond Branding

For many products, a label also needs to carry information, identification, or interactive features.

Fortis supports smart-label capabilities that include sequential numbering, QR codes, Data Matrix, and 2D barcodes. Thermal Transfer and Direct Thermal materials can also support barcodes, lot codes, and other variable information.

These features can give the label a more functional role within the package. A QR code may connect a shopper to additional content. Sequential numbering can support identification. Variable data can help brands manage products that require changing information from one label to the next.

The right approach depends on what the package needs to accomplish. A consumer-facing QR code, a lot code, and a serialized label all serve different purposes, even though each relies on the label to carry information beyond the primary brand design.

When You Need More Space Than the Package Gives You

Sometimes the challenge is not what to put on the label. It is how to fit everything that needs to be there.

Small packages, regulated products, multilingual information, detailed instructions, promotions, or additional product education can all create pressure on limited label space.

Extended Content Labels, or ECLs, can provide additional room without requiring a larger package. Fortis offers peel-and-reseal constructions, including 2-ply, 3-ply, and overwrap options, as well as booklet labels with traditional and segmented bases.

Fortis also supports Instant Redeem Coupons designed for clean removal without tackiness.

These formats allow brands to keep the primary package design clean while creating more space for additional content where needed.

Choosing the Right Printing Technology for the Project

Not every pressure sensitive label project has the same production requirements.

Fortis supports Traditional Flexo, Digital, and Hybrid printing, which gives customers more flexibility when matching the production method to the job.

The right printing approach can depend on factors such as:

• Run size

• Number of SKUs

• Color requirements

• Variable data needs

• Specialty embellishments

• Production volume

• Artwork complexity

A project with many SKUs and frequent artwork changes may have different needs than a long production run with a highly consistent design. A label that requires specialty decorative effects may also call for a different approach than one focused primarily on variable information.

The benefit of having multiple production technologies available is the ability to evaluate what best fits the project rather than forcing every label into the same process.

The Label Still Has to Perform

A label can look perfect on a proof and still fail if it is not designed for the actual package environment.

Pressure sensitive label performance depends on more than print quality. The adhesive, face material, container surface, temperature, moisture, handling, and product use can all affect how a label performs once it leaves the production line.

This matters across consumer categories, but it can be especially important in household and industrial applications, where labels may encounter more demanding environments. Fortis supports robust materials and adhesives for these kinds of high-performance packaging needs.

Conformability can also matter when the label is being applied to a curved or irregular container. A material that works well on one package may not be the right choice for another.

That is why pressure sensitive label development should consider both how the label looks and how it needs to behave throughout filling, distribution, retail display, and use.

What Should Brands Consider When Designing a Pressure Sensitive Label?

Before selecting a label construction, it helps to look at the package as a complete system rather than treating the label as a separate decorative element.

Here are several questions worth asking:

1. What material and container will the label be applied to?

The surface, shape, and rigidity of the package can influence material and adhesive selection.

2. What environment will the package encounter?

Consider moisture, temperature, handling, storage, shipping, and how the consumer will use the product.

3. How important is shelf differentiation?

If the package needs to compete visually in a crowded category, specialty finishes, tactile effects, foil, embossing, or other decorative options may be worth evaluating.

4. Does the label need variable data or smart-label functionality?

QR codes, sequential numbering, Data Matrix, 2D barcodes, lot codes, and other variable information should be planned early in the design process.

5. Does the package need more content space than a standard label provides?

If so, an Extended Content Label may help add instructions, product information, promotional content, or multilingual copy without overwhelming the front panel.

6. What are the run size and SKU requirements?

Production volume, artwork changes, and the number of SKUs can all influence the best printing method.

7. Which finishes support the brand rather than distract from it?

The strongest label design choices are the ones that reinforce the product’s position and consumer experience.

Pressure Sensitive Labels Across Different Markets

Because pressure sensitive labels can be adapted across materials, finishes, and functional needs, they are used across a wide range of industries.

Food & Beverage

Pressure sensitive labels for food and beverage can provide durable, eye-catching prime decoration for bottles, jars, and containers while supporting a wide range of branding styles.

Health & Beauty

Health and beauty products often need labels that combine strong shelf presence with detailed product information. Specialty finishes can help differentiate the package while extended-content and variable-information options can support more complex communication needs.

Personal Care

Tactile varnishes, soft-touch coatings, metallic effects, and other embellishments can help create a more sensory package experience in personal care categories.

Household & Industrial

In demanding environments, materials and adhesives need to be selected with durability and performance in mind. Fortis supports pressure sensitive label options designed for high-performance packaging applications.

Why Work With Fortis for Pressure Sensitive Labels?

Pressure sensitive labeling works best when the visual, technical, and production requirements are considered together.

Fortis brings those capabilities into one labeling program, with:

• Traditional Flexo, Digital, and Hybrid printing

• Paper, film, foil, and conformable materials

• Specialty finishes and embellishments

• Smart-label capabilities

• Extended Content Labels

• Short-run and large-scale production support

• Technical specialists who understand complex labeling requirements

Whether the priority is shelf impact, durability, variable information, additional content space, or a combination of all four, Fortis can help evaluate the right label construction and production approach for the application.

Explore Fortis Pressure Sensitive Label Solutions

Pressure Sensitive Label FAQs

What is a pressure sensitive label?

A pressure sensitive label uses an adhesive that bonds to a surface when pressure is applied. Unlike some other labeling methods, it does not require heat, water, or solvent activation at the point of application.

What materials are used for pressure sensitive labels?

Fortis supports paper, film, foil, and conformable pressure sensitive label materials. The right choice depends on the package, desired appearance, environment, and performance requirements.

What specialty finishes can be added to pressure sensitive labels?

Available Fortis capabilities include metallic foils, embossing, raised tactile varnishes, rough-touch coatings, soft-touch coatings, and rotary screen printing for tactile effects.

Can pressure sensitive labels include QR codes or variable data?

Yes. Fortis supports sequential numbering, QR codes, Data Matrix, 2D barcodes, and Thermal Transfer and Direct Thermal materials for applications such as barcodes and lot codes.

What are Extended Content Labels?

Extended Content Labels provide additional printable space through multi-layer constructions such as peel-and-reseal labels or booklets. They can be useful when a package needs to communicate more information than a standard label can comfortably hold.

What printing methods are used for pressure sensitive labels?

Fortis offers Traditional Flexo, Digital, and Hybrid printing technologies. The best method depends on factors such as run size, number of SKUs, artwork, color needs, variable data, and embellishment requirements.

A pressure sensitive label should do more than sit on a package. It should support the brand, perform in the intended environment, and help the package communicate what matters most.

Talk with Fortis Solutions Group about your container, product, artwork, production volume, and functional requirements to begin evaluating the right pressure sensitive label solution.

Talk to a Fortis Label Specialist

Shrink sleeves can support a more sustainable packaging strategy, but the answer is not as simple as choosing a sleeve labeled “recyclable.” The recyclability of a shrink-sleeve package depends on the complete construction, including the container resin, sleeve film, inks and coatings, coverage, separation behavior, and the recycling system where the package ultimately enters the waste stream.

That means brands should evaluate the bottle and sleeve together. A shrink sleeve that performs well for one container or product may not be the best choice for another.

Are Shrink Sleeves Recyclable?

Shrink sleeves can be recyclable in certain package constructions, but recyclability must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Full-body shrink sleeves are often made from a different material than the container they cover. During recycling, the sleeve may need to separate from the bottle or behave in a way that allows the underlying container resin to be correctly identified and recovered. Inks, coatings, label coverage, and the way the sleeve interacts with sorting and washing systems can also affect the quality of the recovered material.

For this reason, it is more useful to ask whether the complete package is designed for recycling than to ask whether a shrink sleeve is recyclable in isolation.

Why Shrink Sleeves Can Create Recycling Challenges

Shrink sleeves offer strong branding and package-performance benefits, but some constructions can create challenges in the recycling stream.

Several factors can affect recycling compatibility:

• The sleeve and bottle may be made from different resin types.

• Full-body coverage can make it harder for sorting equipment to identify the container underneath.

• Inks and coatings can affect recovered material if they do not separate appropriately.

• Sleeve density and separation behavior can influence how the sleeve moves through a recycling process.

• The package may behave differently depending on the local recycling infrastructure.

The goal is not simply to remove material from the package. It is to select a construction that protects the product, runs reliably in production, supports the brand, and is designed with the intended end-of-life pathway in mind.

Shrink Sleeve Material Choice Matters

Material selection is one of the most important parts of shrink-sleeve design. Fortis works with a range of shrink-sleeve films, with PETG, PVC, OPS, cPET, and PO Film among the materials the company is prioritizing.

Each material has different shrink characteristics, performance considerations, and recycling implications. There is no single material that is automatically the best choice for every product.
ing at a time.

PETG

PETG is commonly used in shrink-sleeve applications because it can provide strong shrink performance and conform to complex container shapes. When sustainability is a priority, the complete PETG sleeve and container construction should be evaluated together to understand how the package may behave in the recycling stream.
anywhere.

PVC

PVC has a long history in shrink-sleeve applications and can provide strong shrink performance for a range of package shapes. As with any sleeve material, its suitability should be evaluated against the product, container, application process, and recycling goals.

OPS

OPS is another shrink-film option that can be considered based on the package geometry, shrink requirements, production environment, and desired finished appearance. Sustainability decisions should be based on the complete package rather than the film name alone.

cPET

cPET is one of the materials Fortis is prioritizing in sustainability-focused shrink-sleeve discussions. Its suitability depends on the specific bottle, sleeve construction, inks, coatings, and end-of-life requirements.

PO Film

PO Film provides another option for brands evaluating shrink-sleeve structures. As with cPET and other shrink films, claims around recycling compatibility should be based on the final construction rather than the material category by itself.

Designing the Bottle and Shrink Sleeve as One Package

One of the most important shifts in sustainable packaging design is to stop evaluating each component separately.

A bottle, sleeve, cap, ink system, and decoration method work together as one package. Decisions about one component can affect the performance or recyclability of another.

For shrink-sleeve projects, brands should consider questions such as:

• What resin is the container made from?

• How much of the container will the sleeve cover?

• Does the product require protection from light?

• Should the sleeve separate from the container during recycling?

• Would perforations be appropriate for the package design?

• Which film performs correctly on the intended shrink tunnel and production line?

• Which inks, coatings, and finishes are required?

Evaluating these questions early can help brands avoid designing a package that looks good on shelf but creates unnecessary problems during production or at end of life.

Clear Bottles, Light Protection, and EPR Considerations

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is giving brands another reason to look at the complete package rather than treating individual components in isolation.

Fortis is working with customers that are evaluating whether they can move away from certain colored bottles and instead use clear containers paired with shrink sleeves. For products that need protection from light, Fortis can support shrink-sleeve approaches intended to help limit light penetration while still providing the branding and decoration benefits of a full-body sleeve.

This can create an opportunity to rethink how the container and sleeve work together as brands evaluate recyclability and EPR considerations.

The right solution still depends on the product. A clear container with a shrink sleeve is not automatically the better environmental choice, and it is not appropriate for every application. Product protection, bottle resin, sleeve material, recycling compatibility, and production requirements all need to be considered together.

How Wash-Off Inks Can Support PET Recycling

Fortis has already developed shrink-sleeve technologies designed to address one of the challenges associated with PET recycling.

The goal of PET recycling is to recover clean PET flake that can be used again. Inks from shrink-sleeve labels can create contamination if they remain with the recovered material during processing.

Fortis’ Renew shrink sleeves for PET applications use a primer designed to allow inks to wash away from the sleeve and be filtered during the recycling process. This approach is intended to help protect the clear PET flake stream while allowing the sleeve and bottle to be processed together in applicable recycling systems.

This is a good example of why sustainable shrink-sleeve design depends on more than the film itself. Ink systems and the way the sleeve behaves during processing can be just as important as the base material.

How EPR Changes Shrink Sleeve Decisions

Shrink sleeves are considered part of primary packaging under EPR programs and may need to be included in producer reporting and fee calculations.

That makes material and design decisions increasingly relevant from both a sustainability and cost perspective. Depending on the program, packaging that is designed for better recycling compatibility may receive more favorable treatment through ecomodulation or related fee structures.

For shrink sleeves, factors such as material type, float and separation behavior, inks, coatings, and the overall package construction may influence how the package is evaluated.

Because EPR programs continue to develop, brands should review the current rules for the states or markets where their products are sold. Fortis can help customers evaluate shrink-sleeve material and design options alongside current packaging goals.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Shrink Sleeve

A more sustainable shrink-sleeve package starts with the right questions. Before selecting a material or approving artwork, consider:

• What resin is the container made from?

• Which shrink-sleeve materials are compatible with the container and production equipment?

• Does the product require light protection?

• How much of the container will the sleeve cover?

• Does the sleeve need to separate from the bottle during recycling?

• Would perforations make sense for the package?

• Which inks, coatings, and decorative effects are planned?

• What EPR programs apply in the markets where the product will be sold?

• Can the complete package be tested before launch?

These questions can help turn sustainability from a material-selection exercise into a complete package-design strategy.

Build Sustainability Into the Entire Shrink Sleeve Package

Shrink sleeves can deliver 360-degree graphics, product protection, tamper evidence, and flexibility across a wide range of container shapes. They can also be designed with recyclability and EPR considerations in mind.

The key is to avoid looking at any one component in isolation. Film, bottle resin, inks, coverage, production requirements, and end-of-life behavior all need to work together.

Fortis Solutions Group works with brands to evaluate shrink-sleeve materials and package designs based on the product, production environment, branding goals, and sustainability priorities. From established materials such as PETG, PVC, and OPS to cPET and PO Film options, the goal is to identify a construction that performs throughout the package lifecycle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sustainable Shrink Sleeves

Are shrink sleeves recyclable?

Some shrink-sleeve constructions can be compatible with recycling systems, but recyclability depends on the complete package. The sleeve material, container resin, inks, coatings, coverage, separation behavior, and local recycling infrastructure all matter.

What are shrink sleeves made from?

Shrink sleeves can be made from several film types. Fortis is prioritizing PETG, PVC, OPS, cPET, and PO Film across its shrink-sleeve material discussions. The right choice depends on the container, shrink requirements, production equipment, appearance, and sustainability goals.

Are shrink sleeves included in EPR reporting?

Shrink sleeves are generally treated as part of primary packaging under EPR programs and may need to be included in reporting and fee calculations. Requirements vary by program and continue to evolve, so brands should review current rules in the markets where their products are sold.

Can shrink sleeves be used on clear bottles that need light protection?

Fortis can support shrink-sleeve approaches intended to help limit light penetration in applicable package designs. The final construction should be evaluated based on the product’s sensitivity, container, sleeve material, and required protection level.

Do wash-off inks improve shrink-sleeve recyclability?

Wash-off ink systems can help address ink contamination in applicable PET recycling processes. Fortis’ Renew shrink-sleeve technology uses a primer designed to allow inks to wash away and be filtered during processing, helping protect the clear PET flake stream.

Stickpacks are one of the most practical formats in single-serve packaging. They’re compact, easy to open, pre-portioned, and familiar to consumers across dozens of categories, from hydration powders to condiments to skincare samples. If you’re evaluating packaging options for a single-use product, this guide covers what stickpacks are, where they work best, what benefits they offer, and what to think through before committing to the format.

What Is stickpack Packaging?

A stickpack is a long, narrow, tube-shaped flexible package designed to hold a single serving of product. It’s formed from a single web of film, sealed along the back and at both ends, and typically opened with a simple tear at the top. The shape is the defining feature: tall and slim rather than flat and wide, which makes stickpacks easy to hold, pour, and carry.

stickpacks are most often filled with powders, granules, liquids, or gels. Because each pack holds exactly one serving, the format removes measuring, scooping, and guesswork from the consumer experience.

How stickpacks Differ From Sachets, Packets, and Pouches

These terms get used interchangeably, but the formats aren’t the same.

A sachet or packet is typically a flat, rectangular pouch sealed on three or four sides. It works well for products that get squeezed or spread, but the wide opening makes controlled pouring harder. A stand-up pouch is a larger multi-serving format built for shelf presence and resealability.

A stickpack, by contrast, is built around single-serve dosing and portability. The narrow tube shape funnels product directly into a bottle, cup, or mouth without spilling, fits in a pocket or gym bag, and uses less film per serving than a comparable sachet. If your product is consumed one measured dose at a time, especially on the go, the stickpack is usually the stronger fit. If your product is spread, sampled in tiny amounts, or sold in multi-use quantities, a sachet or pouch may serve you better.

What Products Are Best Suited for stickpacks?

stickpacks work across a wide range of industries, but they perform best for products that are dosed, dissolved, or applied one serving at a time.

Powders and Drink Mixes

This is the category most people picture. Hydration and electrolyte powders, protein blends, instant coffee, tea, greens powders, and powdered supplements all pour cleanly from the narrow opening into a bottle or glass. The format has become the default for the drink-mix category because it solves the core use case: a measured dose that mixes anywhere.

Nutraceuticals and Supplements

Vitamins, wellness powders, collagen, functional blends, and other supplement products benefit from the pre-measured dose. Consumers don’t have to carry a tub or measure a scoop, and consistent dosing supports the daily-routine behavior most supplement brands are trying to build.

Food, Beverage, and Condiments

Sweeteners, seasonings, drink flavorings, sauces, honey, and condiment portions all work in stickpack format. For foodservice and hospitality, stickpacks deliver hygienic single portions. For retail, they let brands offer trial sizes and multipack variety without changing the core product.

Health, Beauty, and Personal Care Products

Creams, gels, serums, sunscreens, and cleansers translate well to stickpacks for sampling programs, travel sizes, and subscription boxes. A single-use portion lets consumers try a product with no commitment, and it gives brands a low-cost way to get product into new hands.

Key Benefits of stickpack Packaging

The advantages below are the reasons brands across these categories keep choosing the format.

Portability and Convenience

stickpacks are built for on-the-go use. They fit in a pocket, purse, lunch bag, or desk drawer, open without scissors, and dispense without utensils or measuring tools. For products consumed away from home, that convenience directly shapes purchase behavior: consumers buy formats that fit their routines.

Portion Control and Consistent Use

Every stickpack contains the same measured serving. That consistency matters for supplements and nutraceuticals where dosing accuracy is important, for food products where portion size affects nutrition claims, and for any brand that wants the consumer experience to be identical every time. Pre-portioned packaging also reduces product waste from over-pouring.

Product Freshness and Protection

Because each serving is individually sealed, the product stays protected until the moment it’s used. Opening one stickpack doesn’t expose the rest of the supply to air, moisture, or contamination the way an opened tub or jar does. With the right barrier film matched to your product’s sensitivity, stickpacks can protect against moisture, oxygen, light, and aroma loss, which supports shelf life for sensitive formulations.

Durability and Seal Performance

stickpacks need to survive filling, cartoning, shipping, warehouse handling, retail display, and life in a consumer’s bag. Strong seals and appropriate film structures keep the product contained through all of it. Seal integrity is also a food-safety and consumer-trust issue: a pack that leaks or bursts damages more than one serving’s worth of brand equity.

Sustainability Considerations

Flexible packaging formats like stickpacks generally use less material per serving than rigid alternatives, and their light weight can reduce shipping weight and volume. That said, sustainability claims should be specific and supportable. Material choices, recyclability, and end-of-life options vary by film structure and by local infrastructure, so the right conversation is about matching your product’s barrier requirements with the most responsible material that meets them, and being accurate about what that material can and can’t claim.

What Design Factors Should Brands Think About at a High Level?

A stickpack gives you a small canvas. Before deep design work begins, it helps to think through a few structural questions:

• Limited space. The printable area is narrow. Branding, flavor identification, and required product information all compete for the same real estate.
• Readability. Type has to stay legible at small sizes and on a curved surface.
• Visual hierarchy. Decide what a shopper must see first: brand, product name, or flavor, and build around that.
• Opening experience. Tear placement and ease of opening shape how consumers feel about the product every single use.
• Required details. Ingredient lists, nutrition or supplement facts, and regulatory copy need space planned in from the start.
• Context. A stickpack is rarely seen alone. Consider how it looks in a carton, in a countertop display, and in a multipack lineup.

Design matters, but it deserves its own deeper planning process. For a closer look at branding, readability, easy-open features, materials, finishes, and production-ready design, see our guide to stickpack packaging design.

When stickpacks May Not Be the Right Format

stickpacks aren’t the answer for every product. They’re a poor fit when:

• The product is used in variable amounts rather than fixed doses
• Serving sizes are large enough that the narrow format becomes awkward to fill or use
• The product needs to be resealed and used over multiple sessions
• Shelf presence depends on a large printable face or a stand-up display format
• The product’s viscosity or particle size doesn’t dispense well through a narrow opening

If any of those describe your product, a sachet, stand-up pouch, or another flexible packaging format may serve you better. An experienced packaging partner can help you pressure-test the fit before you invest in tooling and film.

How to Evaluate a stickpack Packaging Partner

Once you’ve decided the format fits, the partner decision matters as much as the format decision. Questions worth asking:

• Material guidance. Can they recommend film structures based on your product’s moisture, oxygen, and light sensitivity, not just quote what they have on hand?
• Print capabilities. What print processes do they offer, and can they hold color and detail at stickpack dimensions?
• Structural options. What widths, lengths, and fill volumes can they support, and can they accommodate your filling equipment or co-packer?
• Quality and compliance. What certifications, testing, and quality controls back their seal integrity and food-safety claims?
• Speed and scalability. Can they support your timeline now and your volume when the product grows?

A good partner will work through these questions with you before anything goes to quote. If you’re evaluating suppliers, our custom stickpacks page covers the structures, print options, and production capabilities Fortis brings to stickpack projects.

Stickpack Packaging FAQs

How do I know if stickpacks are the right format for my product?

Start with how the product is used. If it’s consumed in fixed, single-serve doses, poured or squeezed rather than spread, and often used away from home, stickpacks are a strong candidate. If servings vary, the product needs resealing, or shelf presence depends on a large printed face, another flexible format may fit better.

What serving sizes work in a stickpack?

stickpacks handle small, fixed doses best, typically the range you’d see in drink mixes, supplement powders, gels, and condiment portions. Very large servings can make the narrow format awkward to fill and use, which is one of the first things to pressure-test with a packaging partner.

Are stickpacks resealable?

No. A stickpack is a single-use format: tear, dispense, discard. If consumers need to use part of a serving and save the rest, a resealable pouch is the better fit.

How do stickpacks compare to stand-up pouches?

They solve different problems. A stand-up pouch is a multi-serving package built for shelf presence and resealability. A stickpack is a single-serving package built for portability and measured dosing. Many brands use both: a pouch for the at-home supply and stickpacks for on-the-go and trial.

What information has to fit on a stickpack?

Beyond branding and flavor identification, plan space for ingredient lists, nutrition or supplement facts, net weight, and any regulatory copy your category requires. The narrow format means this needs to be worked out early, not squeezed in after the design is done.

Are stickpacks a sustainable packaging choice?

stickpacks typically use less material per serving than rigid packaging, which reduces packaging weight and shipping volume. Whether a specific stickpack is recyclable depends on the film structure and local recycling infrastructure, so match any sustainability claim to the actual material you select.

What should I have figured out before talking to a packaging supplier?

Know your fill type and viscosity, target serving size, barrier sensitivities (moisture, oxygen, light), expected volumes, and timeline. You don’t need final answers on all of it. A good supplier will help you work through the open questions, but arriving with those basics makes the conversation faster and the quote more accurate.

Ready to Explore stickpacks for Your Product?

If stickpacks look like the right fit, the next step is a conversation about your product’s requirements. Visit our custom stickpacks page to see Fortis’ structures, print options, and production capabilities, or reach out to start the conversation.