Businesses in a range of sectors that use labels are looking to become more sustainable, which is why linerless labels are becoming increasingly popular – along with the printers that print them – and this provides an opportunity for resellers.
Retail and hospitality businesses are always seeking greater efficiencies, whether that is time, cost or resources and, increasingly, this ties in with a desire to be more sustainable.
In these sectors, labels are crucial throughout the supply chain, and many businesses are now turning to linerless label printing, which helps with all these criteria.
Deyon Antoine, product marketing manager for Toshiba Tec, notes that linerless label printing offers several advantages over traditional label printing methods including cost savings, waste reduction, improved efficiency and environmental sustainability. “This makes it an attractive option for many businesses,” he says.
“Linerless labels eliminate the need for backing material (liner) typically found on traditional labels, and this reduction in waste is more environmentally friendly and reduces disposal costs. Linerless label printing aligns with sustainability initiatives as many companies and their customers are increasingly seeking and expect sustainable packaging solutions – linerless labels contribute to this goal.”
Bob Vines, TSC Auto ID’s country manager for the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, adds: “Linerless labels are far more sustainable in that they reduce material use and waste,” he says. “With no liner, you get 40-60% more labels on a roll and there’s no non-recyclable backing liner to go to landfill. Linerless media needs fewer raw materials, which again minimises environmental impact.”
Other advantages
There are various other advantages of linerless label printing over traditional label printing too.
“With more linerless labels per roll there are savings to be derived,” says Bob. “Fewer roll changes saves on manpower costs, and less rolls to ship and store saves freight and storage costs. No backing liner also means no waste disposal costs.
“There is also increased efficiency as no peeling process means quicker application.”
Bob adds that using linerless labelling solutions can also improve safety, as the liner can be left lying around on workshop or warehouse floors. “No backing liners leads to safer workspaces as it minimises slip hazards,” he says.
Jay Kim, managing director at BIXOLON Europe, adds that as labels are not pre-cut, businesses benefit from the flexibility of variable-length printing. “This allows them to customise label sizes based on their specific needs and to convey any specific information they require,” he says.
“Additionally, linerless labels are available in a variety of adhesive strengths, providing options for removable and permanent applications depending on the use case. These labels can even be used to double as anti-tamper seals, and to seal boxes and food items, such as those used by food aggregators and on various packaging including cardboard pizza boxes.”
Growing demand
With the various benefits of linerless labelling, it is no surprise that demand for it is growing across a range of sectors.
Bob notes that the latest figures for linerless labelling suggest the market will reach $3.2 billion by 2035, according to Future Market Insights. “The global linerless label printer market in 2023 was valued at $1.2 billion and we’re seeing the largest interest from retail, food and drink, logistics and healthcare,” he adds.
Deyon agrees that demand for linerless labelling is on the rise globally. “This is driven by factors such as sustainability initiatives, cost savings and operational efficiency improvements,” he says. “The UK, like many other regions, has been increasingly focused on sustainability and reducing waste. This has led to a growing interest in eco-friendly packaging solutions, including linerless labels.
“Retail was the first sector to embrace the advantages of linerless labelling, which helped drive down the cost of linerless labels making it even more attractive for other sectors to follow suit. We now see linerless labelling being used in quick service restaurants, on e-fulfilment and e-commerce packaging, postal and courier service labelling and there has also been an increase in adoption within logistics and food packaging.”
Jay agrees that demand for linerless labelling solutions continues to grow across multiple industries. “The retail and hospitality sectors are increasingly adopting removable linerless labels for applications such as order management in coffee shops and fast-food chains, as well as for click-and-collect services in retail.
“The use of these labels in retail click-and-collect applications is a significant advantage during peak season, helping to reduce queues and improve customer shopping experiences. Alongside this, professional desktop linerless printers are also gaining traction in sectors like transport and logistics, where permanent linerless labels are being used for efficient package labelling and to help with product traceability.”
Trends
But as demand for linerless labelling grows, what customers are demanding from their solutions is changing too.
Unsurprisingly, sustainability is uppermost in many customers’ minds. “Sustainability is a key priority for our customers, with innovations focused on eco-friendly inks, advanced substrates, and energy-efficient printer designs,” says Bob. “These developments aim to reduce environmental impact by cutting waste and incorporating sustainable materials, like green packaging, linerless labelling and ribbon-saving features in print-and-apply solutions. This trend is largely driven by growing consumer demand for environmentally conscious products and solutions.”
Deyon adds that customers are seeking products with minimal environmental impact. “The growth of e-commerce has led to increased demand for labels that are durable, can withstand shipping and handling, and optimised for automated fulfilment processes, but can also be easily recycled with the packaging they are affixed to,” he says.
Lewis Cook, co-founder and CEO of Catapult Print, notes that demand for linerless labelling is increasing in the meat, poultry and fish industries, and the fruit and vegetable sectors are catching up too. “Perishable goods are ideally suited to linerless labelling because it’s easy to overprint the sell-by date, weight and price onto the linerless label,” he says.
“A linerless label also enables a design where the consumer can see the product in the pack, which is important when they are selecting perishable foods. It also provides aesthetic benefits to the pack design. With one roll and no backing liners, packing fresh produce is much faster and more agile, getting products to shelf more efficiently.
“A UK supermarket has ditched plastic packaging for some fruit items, which are now packaged in a brightly coloured, recyclable cardboard box for which the linerless label not only provides the important information, such as the origin of the produce and sell-by date etc but also forms a durable and lightweight handle.”
Demands are changing for the printers too. Jay notes that with ongoing advancements in IT infrastructure, there is a growing demand for wireless connectivity in linerless printers, enabling seamless integration into modern business operations and back-end systems. “Companies are also prioritising media compatibility, with many opting for certified linerless label materials to extend printer lifespan and reduce maintenance requirements,” he adds.
Packaging innovation
Lewis notes that the packaging sector is innovating to reduce the amount of packaging used and the waste materials sent to landfill. “Linerless labels enable innovative packaging design that uses fewer materials,” he says. “Because there is no backing liner, there is no need for the release liners required for conventional labels. This means that none of the paper or plastic waste associated with release liners, which typically ends up in landfill, enters the waste stream when linerless labels are used.
“Linerless labels can be made using thinner materials too, and, since the adhesive is directly applied to the label material itself, there is no need for additional adhesive layers.
“Moreover, since the labelling process is simplified and faster, producing a pack with linerless labelling is more energy efficient end-to-end than a comparable conventionally labelled product.”
Reseller conversations
With increasing numbers of businesses in various sectors waking up to the benefits of linerless labelling, it means there are a growing number of opportunities for resellers to sell these products. So when resellers are talking about linerless labelling solutions and printers, there are various benefits that should be highlighted.
Deyon says that eco-friendly cost-effective solutions should be noted. “Linerless labels eliminate backing paper, reducing waste and support eco-friendly practices,” he says. “This aligns perfectly with customers’ sustainability goals, helping them reduce their environmental footprint. Additionally, customers can maximise label usage from each roll, cutting material costs. Fewer roll changes also mean less downtime resulting in increased productivity, addressing any cost and efficiency concerns.
Likewise, the recyclability should be emphasised. “Compared to traditional labels with liners, linerless labels eliminate the backing paper so there’s less waste to manage,” Deyon says. “Also, the ability to recycle linerless labels is on the increase as label manufacturers are developing label materials and adhesives that can be easily recycled. This makes linerless labels an attractive option for businesses and customers looking to reduce their environmental impact.”
As well as extolling the environmental, safety, and operational efficiency benefits of linerless, resellers should tailor benefits by sector, Bob adds. “For example, if they’re talking to ready-to-eat outlet they might highlight being able to print labels of different lengths,” he says. “Similarly, ‘clean’ settings like laboratories might value the absence of a backing liner as it poses a contamination risk.”
Jay adds that the affordability of linerless label printing has improved significantly. “This makes it a viable solution for businesses aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts,” he says. “Resellers should also consider highlighting the cost-saving benefits of reduced waste, as well as the availability of certified linerless media that ensures optimal printer performance. Many manufacturers now offer compatible linerless label bundles, allowing resellers to present a complete solution that enhances printer longevity while minimising potential downtime due to maintenance or repairs.”
Future
With sustainability set to remain a priority for businesses, that is likely to help demand for linerless labelling to increase in the coming years.
“The future of linerless labelling is set for significant growth,” says Deyon. “This surge is driven by the push for eco-friendly solutions, as linerless labels cut down on waste and costs. Innovations like anti-microbial coatings and touchless interactions, especially in healthcare, are also set to make an impact. Stricter labelling regulations will keep the industry proactive, pushing for more innovation. Plus, the rise of automated label print and apply systems will turn manufacturing into smooth, 24/7 operations with minimal waste.”
Bob agrees: “Growth for linerless label printing will be fuelled by sustainability, technological advancements, and a widening range of applications,” he says. “Sustainability is still high on corporate agendas, to either meet regulatory requirements or procure more eco-friendly solutions, so this will continue to drive interest in linerless.
“The most enthusiastic adoption for linerless is currently coming from retailers for processes like shelf-labelling, or from shipping to simplify package identification and tracking, or from food and beverage outlets where the moisture-resistant labels are widely used for quick service.
“For the future, however, as applications expand, we anticipate interest from pharmacies and other healthcare organisations. Being able to produce variable-length labels will also appeal to industries requiring custom personalisation, such as retail and manufacturing.
“As linerless label printers integrate with IoT devices and automated systems, the rewards of smarter, more connected labelling solutions that streamline operations and improve efficiency will only drive interest further. Advances in printing technology will lead to more efficient, versatile, and user-friendly linerless label printers and linerless material. These improvements will enhance print quality, speed, ability and durability to handle various label sizes and materials.”
Lewis says that with so much consumer, media and legislative pressure on the food and drinks industry to reduce the carbon footprint of the goods we buy, there is a clear catalyst for innovation in packaging. “Linerless labelling provides opportunities for rethinking packaging design that we haven’t even thought of yet, and that’s exciting from aesthetic, commercial and sustainability perspectives.”
Jay agrees that linerless label printing is set to expand further across industries such as retail, hospitality, and logistics. “Businesses are increasingly looking for solutions that support their environmental goals while also improving operational efficiency,” he says. “In response to customer needs, manufacturers are integrating advanced features such as WiFi connectivity to allow seamless scaling of print infrastructure. As businesses continue to digitise their operations, we believe linerless technology is set to play a crucial role in streamlining labelling processes across several industries.”
