I’ve heard and witnessed this happening countless times: the instruction or direction for use booklet (IFU/DFU) moving freely around inside of the medical device package during transport and consequently, punctured the sterile barrier of the medical device. Now, not only is the device potentially no longer usable and expensive to replace, but worst of all, your customer needed to use that device today!  Ugh.

The good news is you can avoid such a travesty moving forward … by simply converting IFU/DFU’s to onserts. Yes, it’s that easy!

But wait, what’s an onsert?

An onsert, also known as an Extended Content Label (ECL), is a booklet that is affixed to a pressure sensitive label on a package. These booklets provide extra space for additional information that is needed, and avoids having to make several separate labels.

Other benefits of using Onserts:

• You can identify where on the package the IFU/DFU will be located, which will ensure quick, easy and consistent access.
• Assemble Medical Device packages in advance and localize as needed! By applying the onsert outside of the sterile barrier, you can include the latest IFU content and avoid unnecessary rework and product re-sterilization and perhaps more production efficiencies for the manufacture.
• Many options are available in designs, adhesives, papers, and laminates.
• Will your product be used internationally? Instead of printing multiple IFU/DFU’s with associated sku’s or language configurations, one onsert can be utilized.

How to get started:
Contact the experts at AWT! We’ll discuss your needs and work together to develop a game plan that’ll get your project to market on time and on budget. AWT specializes in unique, innovative and demanding label and packaging solutions for medical, industrial/OEM, food and beverage, personal care/health & beauty, household and specialty markets.

More than 35 years of experience has taught us a few things – and helped us to become the most advanced provider of custom packaging, labeling and converting solutions in the country. From eye-catching consumer labels to medical device applications that can stand up to sterilization, we have a unique blend of precision processes, quality systems and research-based ideas that will meet your needs –  no matter what challenges you bring to the table.

Labels on beauty or personal care products have a unique opportunity to draw more visual interest on the store shelf than other products in, say, the insect repellent spray section of the store (no offense to bug sprays). If a beauty or personal product label has a dynamic and visually engaging design, not only will shoppers grab it off the shelves and buy it, but once they’re home, let’s be real – they’re probably going to use it as a featured prop in decorating their vanity/bathroom and then, maybe even take a picture of their perfect arrangement and post on social media.There is no question graphic design is imperative to entice the consumer to pick it up in the store.  Here are 3 design trends to consider when designing your beauty product label.

Simple Sheen

Gone are the days of minimalist, borderline-boring designs. Thanks to clever use of typography and negative space, these clean, modern, versatile designs simply beg to be put out on display. As an added bonus: clear labels, metallic accents, and an opalescent sheen can add delicate dimension and intrigue to the clear messaging.

Dimensional Design

Designers are having a field day creating beautiful, visually complex and dimensional labels.  For intricate 360 degree designs, consider using a shrink sleeve or pressure sensitive label wrap instead of a printed silkscreen container. These print methods tend to be less expensive to produce than silk screen and you can achieve tighter registration for graphics and text while using a broader range of colors to capture the details.

Mini-Me

Single use and travel size packages come in many forms, including flexible pouch with resealable labels and flexible pouch with EZ pour spouts to make it easy for your customers to maintain their self-care routine while on the go. No more sacrificing their favorite cleanser at the airport TSA because it’s over 3 oz.! Plus, aging populations also benefit from the smaller sizes, as they can be a more convenient and affordable single use price point and easier to use than larger, heavier sizes.. Beyond meeting the needs of your customers, one more benefit for the brand owner with travel or single-use products is expanding the price point/quantity selection consumers can choose from.

I recommend whenever possible to explore options for flexible packaging because you can save money in product shipping and storage. You can learn more about the economic and sustainability benefits of flexible packaging by visiting one of our previous blogs.

It’s easy to make a lasting impression with the right label and package solution. Contact AWT to see how we can help you get there.

H/T: www.sephora.com, www.ulta.com, www.randco.com, & www.thezoereport.com/living/home/vanity-organization-ideas-2016/?sr_share=pinterest#slide-1

What is Food Label Obsolescence & What Causes It?

It’s frustrating when Brand Owners have to throw away labels because the brand copy, ingredients or nutritional facts change!  Consequently, the obsolete labels are “trashed” and a brand new batch is produced with the updated information. The top two causes of obsolescence are commodity market fluctuation and updates to FDA requirements. Okay great, but what the heck does that mean?

Commodity Market Fluctuation

Corn, Chicken and Turkeys, oh my! Many of the components that go into packaged or canned foods are susceptible to demand shortages due to environmental causes, animal illnesses, and a variety of other reasons. When these shortages occur, companies often times have no choice but to swap out one ingredient for another. If that wasn’t stressful enough, every time an ingredient is changed, new labels need to be created. Take the avian bird flu epidemic of 2016 as an example: Over 45 million birds were stricken with the flu, creating major hen and egg shortages. As a result, many companies started using powered eggs as ingredients, which required them to update their labels to reflect the  change(s).

FDA Requirements

The FDA takes their responsibility to protect the public’s health very seriously and makes improvements to food label requirements on a regular basis. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (21 CFR 101) is being adjusted since scientific information now links chronic diseases such as chronic obesity and heart disease to diet.

Here’s a list of nutritional label items that were adjusted:

• Serving size – Regular Amount Customarily Consumed, or RACC
  • Example: Soda 8 oz. to 12 oz. – who only drinks 8 oz. in a can?
• Larger Calories font
• Added Sugars – scientific evidence supports reducing caloric intake from added sugars
• New Nutrients added – Vitamin D and Potassium
• New Fiber definition – requires fiber to have a beneficial physiological effect to human health (lowering blood glucose)
• New Footnote
• Category additions – Hor d’oeuvers, dried vegies, drink mixes, seasoning past, seaweed sheets

For visual folks such as myself, here’s what the Nutrition and Supplement changes look like:

          Old                            New

These Nutrition and Supplement Fact updates require a speedy implementation. Manufacturers have until July 26, 2018, to comply with the changes and manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until July 26, 2019, for compliance.  However, with the Trump administration, there is some thought that the regulation changes may be pushed back. In anticipation, some companies are holding off on making changes until they know more. This approach will likely get riskier as the deadline looms closer.

About Face

Nutritional Call-Out Label

As the “face” of your product, front labels require eye-catching graphics that command attention from shoppers. It’s important that the consumer immediately recognizes the product name and brand before taking that next step towards the next option. In fact, these statement-making graphics play a big role in differentiating how to manage front label obsolescence versus back label. There are a couple different strategies when building the design:   It’s trendy for labels to feature call-outs of nutritional highlights on the front of a package.  If this is your angle, it might be best to print digitally so that the content can be refreshed quickly and inexpensively.

“Traditional” Label

Other companies stick to a more “traditional” look for their front labels, which can create a great opportunity for flexographic printing to be utilized.  In fact, for longer runs (10,000 linear feet and higher) it can be more cost-effective to run flexographically than digitally.  Plus, assuming the product to which the labels are adhered is in a consistent rotation at the store, you won’t have to worry as much about label storage costs. It’s okay to stock up!

With all this is mind, there is one easy way to reduce food label obsolescence.

When approaching a nutrition facts update, consider printing back labels in shorter runs on a digital press. You’ll have the opportunity to save money in a few different ways:

1. Shorter runs will save you money in storage as well as in printing costs. Fun fact: short runs, up to 10,000 linear feet are very cost-effective when run on a digital press.
2. If you use a digital press, you won’t run into or plate costs every time you need to make a change, like you would if printing flexographically.
3. Digital allows you to “Walk Before You Run.” It provides flexibility to work out any kinks before committing to longer print runs and/or switching to a flexographic press.
4. Don’t wait till the last minute to start planning for your change over. Any advanced notice helps! Your supplier can provide recommendations to manage part inventory that minimize obsolescence.

With all the different factors to consider, sometimes managing food labels can feel more like juggling eggs.  Before any eggs get dropped, it’s important to partner with a printer that truly understands food labels, managing obsolescence, and can navigate you through the myriad of complexities without negatively impacting your customers. At AWT Labels & Packaging, this is our wheelhouse. We are committed to finding the most cost-effective solution for your project and even offer Supplier Managed Inventory (SMI) programs to help further manage inventory.  Contact Us to discuss how we can help you out.

h/t:

http://www.pennlive.com/food/index.ssf/2015/06/egg_prices_shortages.html

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/enewsletter/enews_0516_03.shtml

https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/LabelingNutrition/ucm385663.htm#images

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-egg-prices-20150530-story.html

Flexible packaging is taking over the shelves both in stores and at home and it’s pretty easy to see why. It’s quite economical to produce, easy to transport, and takes up less storage (as well as landfill) space when compared to many of the rigid packaging options out there. With consumers and brand owners alike jumping on-board the Flexible Packaging Train, it’s safe to say that the uptick of flexible package use isn’t stopping any time soon. In fact, the Future of Global Flexible Packaging to 2020 report by Smithers Pira says that the global market for flexible packaging is projected to grow 18% by 2020.

Here are some highlights from the 2016 Flexible Packaging Transition Advantages Study that break down what consumers and brands think of flexible packaging:

Although its popularity is growing at lightning speed, flexible packaging can be a double-edged sword when it comes to environmental responsibility. According to Lightweight Advances in Flexible Packaging: FPA Member Case Stories by the Flexible Packaging Association: Flexible pouches not only contain less packaging material by weight, but when empty, they require fewer pallets and trucks for distribution and storage. This saves energy and cost associated with the transportation and warehousing of packaging materials. Plus, did you know:

• The packaging efficiency (product to package ratio) of a flexible pouch is nearly DOUBLE that of a plastic container, which means the same amount of product can be delivered with HALF the amount of packaging material.
• One truckload of flat pouches often equals between 15-25 truckloads of empty rigid containers
• A rigid counterpart could weigh up to 70% more than flexible packaging, a costly option especially for small product runs.
• 840 empty pouches with spout fitments (1 L) can be stored or shipped in the same amount of space that would only accommodate 30 plastic bottles (946 mL)
  • This means a 96% reduction in storage or shipping space! Volume in reference to actual product volume, not container capacity
• Flexible packaging can be recycled into something like a heavy-duty shipping sack for fertilizer or lawn-and-garden use.
• If using a biodegradable additive in polyethylene packaging, then the package can biodegrade in only 18 months if it’s somewhere with a high count of microbes (like a landfill).
• Two used plastic refill bottles (1.47 L) would occupy the same amount of space in a landfill as 107 used flexible refill pouches with spouts (828 mL).

The flip side of the environmentally-responsible sword is that technology just hasn’t caught up with where it needs to be in order to effectively recycle flexible packaging. Flexible packages (especially those intended for food) are composed by fusing together multiple layers of varying materials and agents. Unfortunately, current recycling systems aren’t technologically equipped to separate, distribute, or reuse the various layers. To get into the nitty gritty details, check out this post from Packaging Digest.

That being said, there’s a lot of great work being done to increase recyclability. Organizations like the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the Flexible Film Recycling Group (FFRG) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APPR), just to name a few, are making significant strides in developing new processes and technologies to effectively sync flexible packaging, recycling and sustainability.

At AWT Labels and Packaging, we’re dedicated to providing the most cost-effective, environmentally-friendly option for your flexible packaging (and label) printing needs. Contact the Experts at AWT to get started on your next project.

What’s trending in label and packaging designs in 2017? Modern Nature.

The fast-paced world we live in has created a need for us to relax, refocus and reset. Sounds like a good idea, right? But how does one actually accomplish this? Many psychologists say that time spent in nature should do the trick, but since that’s not always an option for city dwellers, packaging design intends to bring nature to you in 2017. Prepare to feel reinvigorated by seeing earthy, mineral and jewel-toned colors incorporated into clean, modern label designs. The eco-friendly trend continues as there will be a growth in recyclable/recycled packaging, clear packaging and pouches.

Nature Nurtures

Did you know that the average adult spends over nine hours each day looking at a smartphone, tablet or computer screen? Granted, this interconnectedness can help get a lot of tasks accomplished, but it doesn’t leave much time for us to stop and smell the roses. This juxtaposition inspired the 2017 PANTONE color of the year choice, Greenery (15-0343). According to PANTONE Color Institute, The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world.  https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2017. Metallic face sheets, embossing and natural-looking, unbleached paper are great options to use on consumer goods labels because they are great at catching eye appeal and increasing the product’s perceived value.  A variety of visual nature references will greet you on labels and packaging at the store, giving you reprieve from the seemingly endless beeping of email message alerts and to-dos.

Type Hype

Trying to make a quick decision of what to buy at the store? Don’t worry, designers have you covered. In 2017, you’ll see a variety of bright colors and fonts used on labels. Each typeface enthusiastically calls attention to an important aspect of the product, making it easy to quickly process information. Every year, more and more information seems to be added to labels, directing the typographic design to be not only visually appealing, but also quite functional.

High Definition Printing

As technology in flexo plates and press equipment continues to evolve, so does the aesthetic quality and complexity of the product graphics. Sharper graphic images are used to call the shopper’s attention from a distance. Designs feature intricate patterns that add deeper dimension to the visual. Not only will the packaging look impressive at the store, but it will also jazz up your pantry!

QR Codes, Augmented Reality & Extended Content Labels

Features like QR codes, augmented reality, and extended content labels bring their own exciting, interactive dimensions to design. Whether you’re whisked away to another dimension of branding bliss via augmented reality, or diving deeper into company messaging with a QR code, or even simply hoping to find additional instructions and languages thanks to an onsert, these powerful enhancements use limited space to express a big message. These creative solutions allow brands to provide their consumers additional, complex messaging without taking up any extra real estate on the store shelves.

Augmented Reality

https://blippar.com/en/showroom/

https://blippar.com/en/showroom/

QR Code

http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2013/07/ghost-ship-rum.html

http://2d-code.co.uk/gold-qr-code-wine-label/

Extended Content Labels

http://www.interphex.com/en/Exhibitors/504405/Mini-Graphics-Inc/Products/762733/Extended-Content-Labels

Want to learn more about how you can incorporate the latest label and/or packaging trends into your Packaging Brand? Simply contact the experts at AWT. We’re here to help!

Trendy, user-friendly packaging is quickly taking over the pet food market! Increasing consumer demands are motivating the specialty pet food market to expand and diversify its packaging options.  As a result, pet food companies are saying “goodbye” to old style, multi-wall paper bags/metal packaging and saying “hello” to flexible plastic packaging solutions such as re-closeable bags and pouches. These stand up pouches help the consumer fill their kitchen pantries with product that can be stacked neatly in a row for easy access and reuse at a moment’s notice.

Thanks to advancements in flexible packaging, many new re-closeable stand-up pouches feature high-end graphics that appeal to the consumer and make purchasing pet foods fun!  One of the hottest pet food packaging design trends is the new “matte” look or a combination of matte and glossy finishes. These finishes make the products really stand out on the shelves and attract the attention of pet food buyers across all age groups (including Millennials, who pay close attention to aesthetic appeal)!

In addition to high end graphics jazzing up the packaging, many different styles of pouches are now being used in the pet food markets including: flat-bottom box pouches, bottom gusseted stand-up pouches, pinch-bottom box pouches, quad bags, retort pouches and even liquid filled pouches. Pouches also incorporate many closing styles including: press-to-close zippers, slider zippers, double-track zippers and even hook-to-hook closures.  Some pouches may also include fitments, spouts and even micro-perfing.

Common dog food structures are typically a reverse printed 48G PET laminated to a 48G metallized polyester which then gets laminated to a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).  The LLDPE sealant layer thickness is usually determined by the net weight of the pouch.  The heavier the contents of the pouch, the heavier the LLDPE gauge.  Typical sealant layer thicknesses can range from 2 mil-5 mil depending on overall net weigh of the pouch or bag.

Pets Are Where the Money’s At

Sales for all pet products & services totaled $103.5 billion globally in 2016. This reflects a 4.7 percent increase over 2015!  Dry dog food was the largest market globally, racking up nearly $30 billion in sales and growing 4.6 percent in 2016, accounting for almost 40 percent of the $75.25 billion global pet food market. It doesn’t stop there! Dog food is projected to continue to hold the greatest share of the pet food market through 2017. Locally, the U.S. has the largest pet care market and growth continues about 4 percent per year.  Did you know that the average US household spends about $355 annually on pet care?  This is a huge amount compared to the global household average which is only a mere $50/year. Yet the U.S. dominance comes with a caveat, especially where pet food is concerned: all the growth is in value sales, not volume sales, which are actually declining.

Through consumer research and market trend analysis plus a desire to stand out among the competition, pet food manufacturers are stepping up their game when it comes to packaging their products. If the current wave of rebranding, re-packaging and specialty formulation is any indication, the industry will be looking at innovation as a significant part of their marketing strategies for some time to come.

To learn more about flexible packaging options, click here to contact the experts at AWT Labels & Packaging.

Photos courtesy of:
https://www.beyondpetfood.com/products/cat/snacks/grain-free-chicken-egg-cat-treats/
http://www.luvsomepet.com/our-products/dog-food/natural-with-added-vitamins-minerals-other-trace-nutrients/
https://www.sojos.com/almond-bran/sojos-wild%E2%84%A2-venison

So far, retirement has been everything I have hoped including some trips, some paddling, chasing deer, a bit of volunteer work, and adult beverages whenever the urge strikes. I do have to suck it up and put in about three days a month working in the sticker business, a schedule I kick myself for not implementing years ago.  My most recent gig was attending a supplier mart at one of our customer’s technical conference on the west coast.  The more things change the more they stay the same; adhesion and the lack of it at times are a continuing topic of discussion.

ARGH!!!  (Image courtesy of www.tutorialgeek.net/2011/01/tip-of-day-removing-labels-or-glue-with.html)

We have all experienced label issues involving the concept of proper adhesion, a.k.a. ‘sticking’.  One end of the spectrum is having the damn things stick when you don’t want them to, like when you buy some cool new gadget and the label comes off in pieces leaving a nasty, gooey residue. On the other end is the label that’s supposed to stick but doesn’t, like the registration sticker on my sea kayak.  Both create extreme suction, to use the politically correct phrase, but both can be dealt with by starting out with a very basic two part question:

What does this thing actually stick to and what happens to it after it’s stuck?

This is an especially critical question for medical device labeling because there are a number of very different surfaces that the label has to adhere to properly and all sorts of nasty things can happen to the label after it is stuck.  When issues occur, people in a number of unrelated areas from manufacturing to regulatory to the end users tend to become both critical and surly.

Adhesion, simply put, is the molecular force of attraction between two different surfaces.  Therefore, knowing the two surfaces and knowing the best adhesive to facilitate that molecular level attraction would seem to be key.  However, that is not always easy.  In the industrial OEM world I don’t know how many times I’ve been told, “Oh yeah, the label sticks to steel”.

Steel has an extremely high dyne level and is one of the easiest things to stick to… with a dozen or so potential pitfalls, of course.

Labels hate sticking to steel that hasn’t been properly degreased.  Lots of times labels hate sticking to steel parts that have been painted and they really, really hate sticking to metals that have been powder coated.  But wait, you say, in those cases they really aren’t sticking to the steel, they are sticking to grease, paint, and powder coating.  Precisely.  A classic label ‘failure’ was at a customer that labeled glass vials.  All of a sudden the labels began to fail which of course meant bad labels and a product rejection.  Upon investigation, we found out that a zealous new buyer discovered he could save a few fractions of a cent per unit by opting out of the ‘flame treating’ process.  He couldn’t figure out how this added any value to the part until his line guys discovered that labels would not stick to the silicone that was typically flamed off at the glass manufacturers. The key, is for us label folks to dig down and find issues like that out before we recommend a label stock.  As the doctors say, prescription without diagnosis is malpractice….which is a great segue into medical device substrate issues.

Tyvek is typically the long pole in the tent when it comes to label adhesion.  Not only does it have an extremely low dyne level, but the caliper of the Tyvek is all over the place.  Simply put, dyne is surface tension.  A dirty car has a high dyne level and when it rains the water runs off.  A newly waxed car has a low dyne level and the water beads up and does not run off or ‘wet out’.  We want adhesive to wet out to help form the bond.  The caliper issue is pretty simple as well.  If you imagine a giant label, it would stick much better to Kansas than Colorado because the adhesive would only bond to the peaks and not get down in the valleys.  So why not add more adhesive like duct tape or Gorilla Tape?  Because the ooze created on the label stock would gum up any thermal transfer printer or laser printer in about 35 seconds, angering the line operators once again (see flame treating above). Tyvek is a well-known and well-researched medical device packaging surface and at this point in adhesive evolution pretty easy to deal with. 

There are, however, many insidious surfaces that want to trip you up.  For us, the most common adhesion issues result from the variety of coatings used on the SBS and corrugated cartons used as outer packaging for the sterile package.  In addition to the pigments and other additives in the inks, a whole new slew of chemistry is introduced when your marketing people decide to make the carton pretty or ‘have the graphics pop’ by adding varnish. Water-based varnish, solvent-based varnish, UV varnish, or the myriad of aqueous coatings, can all add significantly to your adhesion headaches with the outer packaging. By far the simplest solution, one that is 100% effective, is to avoid varnish in the area of your labeling.

Spot Varnish (Image courtesy of www.dc-everitt1215-dc.blogspot.com/2013/10/ougd504-design-for-print-production.html)

This is known in the industry as spot varnishing, where the varnish is printed in specific areas rather than flood coating the entire package surface.

It requires a printing plate up front from the carton printer, but it’s a very low cost option compared to the potential adhesion issues that can arise from variations in the varnishing process and chemistry. With the spot varnish technique, marketing and the end user get that bright shiny package and manufacturing and package engineering and manufacturing avoid costly and time consuming headaches.  Many of the labels that we produce specify varnish coating so we know of which we speak.  Too much solvent, too little solvent, too light of a coating, too heavy of a coating, UV lights that are getting old, or running too fast for 100% curing are only a few of the potential issues.  It is significantly more reliable for adhesive to bond to paper fibers then to smooth, inconsistent coatings.  This reliable bond is especially critical for closure type labels that help end users as well as the restock people at the manufacturer tell if a package has arrived intact.  The most thorough label qualification and validation process will not pick up the variation in lots of varnished cartons, especially since many validations rely on a three lot sample.

Most medical device label sets need to be imprinted at the manufacturers, typically with thermal transfer or laser, with lot numbers, expiration dates, UDI and other data.  These individual labels all adhere to different substrates whether it be pouches, Tyvek, SBS boxes, PETG trays, corrugated, or medical records. If you are really lucky, then adhesion to Tyvek, a known and consistent surface, will be your biggest challenge.  If you are dealing with varnishes, well, good luck!  We will do our best to help and advise as well as control adhesive type, coat weight, and face stock attributes.  What we can’t control are the substrates to which the labels adhere, especially modified ones such as varnished cartons.

There are other anecdotal stories of adhesion issues on device packaging, including the sheet-rocking-next-door-to-the-final-pack-area-dust story, and the even more interesting, pacemaker-carton-in-the-back-of-the-car-window-in-Arizona-in-July. Label bubbling caused by outgassing of certain molded plastic parts that are labelled in a rush before the post-cure cycle is completed is one of my favorites, but I gotta save some of this stuff for future blogs.

If you have questions please get in touch, we have seen most of this stuff before and can help you with that diagnosis that needs to happen before the prescription.

Cost-Effectiveness of Combining Flexographic and Digital Printing

When it comes to choosing the best printing process for your label job, it can be confusing to know when to choose flexographic or digital printing. They both have pros and cons individually, but did you know that both processes can be utilized during the same product life cycle to save money?

Flexographic Printing
Flexographic printing utilizes a series of plates, rollers and ink to print and rotary die cut mass quantities of labels (as well as flexible films) on a variety of substrates. Although there is a cost involved for the custom plates and press setup, the price of printing high quantities is economical and cost-effective. Flexographic equipment is designed to run at much higher speeds than digital and the die cutting is done in-line.  In contrast, most labels run on digital equipment are die cut (finished) off-line.  The ink used is very durable, can match Pantone colors and won’t easily fade in time. This means the product can withstand shelf life without the risk of diminished quality in the label’s eye-catching appeal.

Digital Printing
Digital printing offers advantages including its ability to print high-quality graphics, incorporate variable data as well as text/design changes at lower price points for short production runs. Digital printing doesn’t use plates, which eliminates the extra expense. The setup of the press is also much less time and material and thus cheaper for the buyer.  If orders are low-to-mid quantity, then printing with digital can be a smart, economical option.

Joining Forces to Reduce Cost and Waste

1. Alternate between the two processes based on product’s stage in life cycle
   
   To save money and reduce waste, you can use digital and flexographic printing based on the stage of the product’s life cycle. Digital printing is a great option to use during the introductory phase because it allows fast turnarounds and is especially well-suited to economically producing shorter runs. But their biggest advantage at this phase might be flexibility. Without the need for printing plates, you get true on-demand capabilities. Digital systems are able to easily and cost-effectively change labels as product modifications might occur and can minimize or sometimes even eliminate inventory requirements. Once the product life cycle enters the growth stage and the product is being widely distributed, you could consider switching over to flexographic printing. This will allow mass production of the label or packaging at a lower cost than digital.The last phase of the product life cycle is “decline” characterized by the reduction in market share or a product revision in the near future. For this time frame, it’s recommended to begin switching back to using digital. A purely demand-based, digital printing solution helps minimize inventory and obsolescence costs while providing the lowest cost for small production quantities of labels. You can also focus on optimum run quantities for efficient production and a no frills approach that includes lower cost substrates.

2. Products with multiple lines
   As mentioned above, companies with a well-established, consistently sold product will likely use flexographic printing for their mass quantity label needs. However, for a “customized/regional” version, there will be a lower quantity and would benefit from using digital. For example, think of a coffee roasting company. They likely have a standard roast, of which consistently high volumes are sold. Flexographic printing would be the best option to ensure that steady inventory levels are maintained at a low cost point. For a seasonal flavor such as pumpkin spice or nutmeg, a smaller run might include customized label and/or packaging designs. For this specialty item, digital printing would be the most time and cost-effective choice.

https://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Medium-House-Ground-Coffee
https://www.amazon.com/Starbucks-Fall-Blend-2016-Ground/

3. Proofing
   Digital technologies can be calibrated to appear just like flexographic printing, which can come in handy during the proofing process of a flexographic print job. To save the manufacturer money and time, the label proofs and application needs can be produced with digital presses and then, the job can simply switch over to flexographic for the production run.

When it comes to selecting a printing process it’s best to work with a supplier who offers both flexographic and digital processes. This will allow for creating a project plan that maximizes the benefits of each and will provide cost savings, increase production efficiency and reduce waste.

Food is necessary for life, so it’s no surprise that the market is one of the largest sectors of the packaging industry worldwide. There are thousands of retail food items to choose from, and within each product type there are dozens of brands available. With so many choices for shoppers, how will you ever get your brand noticed?! Never fear, AWT Labels & Packaging has the latest update on food labeling and packaging trends to help your product stand out. Let’s take a look at the biggest ones right now.

Trend #1: Portable

Figuratively speaking, the world is moving faster every day. Work, errands, extracurricular activities, etc.; we are all full speed ahead! And this change in pace brings a need to eat meals on the go. This means products that are easy to open, hold, and reseal. Re-sealable labels over plastic trays are a rising trend for people who are looking for something that can be nibbled on now and saved for later. These labels can be seen on products like ready- to-eat fruits and veggies, and deli style lunchmeats. Another portable option is flexible pouches, which are becoming a popular packaging choice for yogurts and fruit purees. They knock out the need to carry a spoon and provide fuss-free portability for busy kids, grownups, and those who identify anywhere in between.
 

http://cdn.andnowuknow.com/thumbnails/pma-pt2-3.jpg?Jeks7knppWHHILpOByjdmyr8GKUbz6n5
http://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/dce07b8c-7ca6/k2-_9e3bd9fb-c3e9-4754-aedc-9c798310f60a.v1.jpg

Trend #2: Compact

Along with portable packaging, consumers are looking for food items that can be easily stored. With an increase in people moving to larger cities, small and frequent trips to the grocery store are becoming common. This means there is a need for packaging that is easy to carry and keep. By turning towards flexible packaging over rigid plastics or boxes, you can offer easy-to-store products without sacrificing durability. This style of packaging is great for foods ranging from cereals to soups!
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Trend #3: Style

It’s probably obvious that an attractive label design will help your product stand out. But choosing what style works best for your brand can often be challenging. Current food label trends range from the use of modern geometric shapes (it says: simple, wholesome), to ornate decorations (it says: luxury), all the way to featuring a retro-inspired “throwback” design (it says: nostalgic, time honored). Depending on the personality of your brand, one of these ideas could possibly be the thing that gets your product noticed.
 

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From size to function to style, there are many things to consider when choosing the packaging and labeling for your food product. Luckily, AWT Labels & Packaging has over 35 years of experience in the label and packaging industry to cater to any food brand. For more information about our products or to speak to one of our experts, visit www.awtlabelpack.com/contact or call (612) 706-3700.

Generational Shift

In the 1980s and ‘90s, if you released a “green” product, you were taking a big risk.  They were more expensive to make, and most of the time consumers didn’t care if their cleaning products were “all-natural” or their chicken was “antibiotic-free.” Environmentally conscious consumerism just wasn’t a thing.

In today’s world, it’s the thing. Companies that likely wouldn’t have survived in the 1980s and ‘90s, like all-natural cleaning product manufacturer Seventh Generation, are thriving now. The big reason? Millennials. As they grow to have more spending power, their open-minded, environmentally-friendly mindset is reflected in the products that hit the market. They’re willing to spend more for all-natural, earth-friendly products, and manufacturers are following suit.

Key Players

Three notable brands, Seventh Generation, Fairlife Milk, and Method Cleaning Products, have embraced the green movement and are wildly successful because of it. All three have a commitment to sustainable practices in one way or another, whether that’s through employing plant based ingredients, ensuring fair treatment of animals, or making packaging from recycled materials. And their success is easy to see.  They’re all available at some of the largest retailers, including Target and Walmart, and Seventh Generation even has comedian Maya Rudolph endorsing them.

http://fairlife.com/
http://methodhome.com/products/gel-hand-wash-beach-sage/
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/disinfecting-bathroom

A Step Further

As brands discover that sustainability is the new frontier, the market is bound to become saturated with green options. With so many eco-friendly products, how can companies differentiate themselves? Consider this: you’re shopping for hand soap, looking for something that’s environmentally friendly. You come across two different brands. They’re the same price, have pretty much the same ingredient list, but one makes the claim of having a completely compostable label. Which do you choose? The answer is obvious: the one with the compostable label. By being ahead of the trend, companies whose products and labels are sustainable are likely to fair better as environmentally conscious consumerism becomes widespread. Additionally, many large retailers, like Walmart, have implemented supplier scorecards for brands they carry. These scorecards evaluate products based on their sustainability, and can benefit manufacturers if they score well – meaning the more compostable, the better! So how can you go about implementing a compostable label for your product?

One option is to use a biodegradable film. PLA film, for example, is made from plant based materials and is fully compostable. It can be applied with an adhesive or as a shrink sleeve, so it’s able to work with a variety of package designs. But even if you’re using a compostable film for your label, you still need to think about inks and adhesives to apply it. Luckily, there are adhesives that are 100% compostable, and water-based ink is also an option to give your label a completely eco-friendly guarantee. So why think twice about it?

If you’re looking for an expert partner to help you navigate the waters of sustainable labeling, AWT Labels and Packaging offers all of the options listed above and has over 35 years of experience in the labeling and packaging industry. Not only that, but we go above and beyond to ensure that we partake in sustainable practices. For more information, visit www.awtlabelpack.com or call (612) 706-3700