For packaging engineers and sustainability leaders, the push toward greener materials has grown from a trend into a strategic imperative. Labels, while often overlooked, are a crucial component of the packaging lifecycle—and a common barrier to recyclability, compostability, or carbon reduction goals. If you’re an eco-friendly brand, your choice of sustainable label materials can make or break your claims. Fortunately, today’s advancements have opened new pathways to aligning performance, compliance, and eco-conscious branding.

As a converter with extensive experience in both regulated industries and environmentally responsible packaging, Systems Graphics helps brands like yours excel in meeting ESG benchmarks and advancing sustainability initiatives. To get you ready for the task, here are a few things you should know about sustainable label materials before going to print.

Interested in an experienced partner that can you navigate the complexities of sustainable labeling? Connect with a consultant.

Understanding Sustainable Label Materials

Sustainability in label construction depends on more than just the substrate. Every component, including face stock, adhesive, liner, and ink, must be considered holistically to determine the end-of-life compatibility and environmental impact of a label. 

Common Types of Sustainable Label Materials

  • Recycled content labels – Often made from post-consumer waste (PCW), recycled paper or film face stocks can reduce virgin material usage. However, they may present trade-offs in terms of brightness or durability.
  • Compostable labels – Typically made from bioplastics or plant-based papers with compost-safe adhesives and inks. These are ideal for certified compostable packaging but require careful vetting for industrial compostability.
  • Recyclable labels – Engineered to be compatible with recycling streams like paper or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). These often use wash-off adhesives or low-residue materials to prevent contamination.

A label’s sustainability profile depends not only on material type, but also its compatibility with the primary package. For example, a recyclable PET bottle can be rendered unrecyclable if paired with the wrong pressure-sensitive label.

Compostable vs. Recyclable: Choosing a Path for Your Packaging

Going green is a matter of strategy, and one of the decisions you’ll have to make is choosing between composable and recyclable labels. Different products fair better with one over the other, so here are a few factors to consider:

Compostable Labels:

  • Are ideal for single-use containers and full-package compostability
  • Must meet recognized standards like ASTM D6400 (in the United States)
  • Require industrial composting environments to break down properly
  • Need to be free from toxic components, including certain inks and adhesives

Recyclable Labels:

  • Are designed for compatibility with common recycling streams
  • Often require water-based, wash-off, or low-residue adhesives
  • Are more suitable for rigid packaging that already meets recycling standards
  • May involve certification from organizations like APR (Association of Plastic Recyclers)

Your decision may also be influenced by local infrastructure, product use, consumer expectations, and corporate sustainability goals. A compostable package might mean little in areas without access to industrial composting, while a recyclable one may fail if the label contaminates the stream. It pays to think critically about your target audience and sales destinations upfront.

Ink and Adhesive Selection: The Hidden Environmental Variables

While eco-conscious substrates are typically the ones to get the spotlight, inks and adhesives have their own role in determining environmental performance. Here’s what you should consider when determining your selection for these elements:

Inks — Look for water-based or UV-curable inks with low VOC emissions. Avoid heavy metal pigments and opt for certified compostable formulations when needed.

Adhesives — Compostable or wash-off adhesives are essential for ensuring that the label doesn’t compromise the recyclability or compostability of the entire package. These adhesives should also meet performance criteria for tack, shear, and aging.

It’s important to remember that sustainability doesn’t mean compromising functionality. Systems Graphics collaborates with trusted material suppliers to vet and test adhesives and inks that balance environmental impact with application performance, print quality, and durability.

Regulatory Alignment and Certification Considerations

As sustainability becomes more commonplace, claims around eco-labeling face increasing scrutiny. As a result, it’s easy to feel lost in all the rules, regulations, and guidelines. Here’s how to stay on track with the recognized standards:

  • Know the rules before you make the claim. In the United States, the FTC’s Green Guides outline what constitutes a truthful environmental marketing claim. For instance, using the term “compostable” requires that the product break down in a safe and timely manner in a typical composting facility. 
  • Get familiar with applicable testing standards. Standards like ASTM D6400 define what qualifies as industrially compostable. For recyclability, industry groups such as the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) offer test protocols to assess compatibility with recycling infrastructure.
  • Choose certifications with meaning. Eco-labels like FSC®, OK Compost, and APR Preferred provide third-party validation and help consumers (and regulators) trust your claims.

When in doubt, bring your labeling partner into the conversation early. They can help evaluate the technical specs of your material selections so you can measure them against regulations and flag potential issues before you go to print.

Selecting Your Partner for Sustainable Labeling

Designing with sustainable label materials takes technical knowledge, material science expertise, and the modern tools to back it up. Not all “sustainable label” solutions are created equal—and neither are the partners who provide them. A strong labeling partner should help you simplify complexity, reduce risk, and move sustainability goals from strategy to reality. Here are a few things to look for when evaluating a sustainable labeling provider:

  • Extensive material expertise across substrates, inks, and adhesives
  • Experience with regulated and eco-sensitive markets like food or cosmetics
  • In-house quality systems to support compliance like GMP-certification

At Systems Graphics, we proudly check these boxes—and more. We bring decades of experience in high-stakes labeling environments and offer a wide range of sustainable material options. Our team helps packaging professionals compare compostable and recyclable label formats, thoroughly vet adhesives and inks for eco-friendly performance, and ensure you achieve your sustainability goals—all without compromising essential product performance or brand standards.

If you’re ready to bring sustainability into sharper focus on your packaging line, Systems Graphics is ready to help. Reach out today to discuss how our certified, sustainable label solutions can support your packaging platform and environmental goals.