Fully printed or labeled: here's what you need to know before you choose

Fully printed packaging

With fully printed packaging, the entire surface is provided with your own design, logo, colors and text during production. Rob: “Instead of standard packaging with a separate label or sticker, the printing is applied directly to the packaging material. That gives a professional, luxurious look and makes your brand maximally visible on the shelf.” But there are more important advantages, Rob explains. “It saves costs because there is no need to design, produce and affix a separate label. In addition, it is more environmentally friendly because the entire pouch is made of one type of material. That makes recycling easier.” The new EU regulations (PPWR) also set strict requirements: from 2026, packaging must meet criteria such as Design for Recycling – well-sortable material, mono-material structure and a minimum recycling score of 70%. “This makes a fully printed pouch extra attractive: one material and no stickers to interfere with recycling,” Rob said.

Packaging with label

Labeled packaging is standard packaging to which a printed label is attached after production. Rob: “The label usually contains your brand, product information and possibly additional details such as ingredients or instructions for use. Because the packaging itself remains unprinted, this is a flexible solution: the label can easily be adjusted in case of temporary promotions or changed legislation.” Still, there are disadvantages, he explains: “Labels involve additional production costs and are often made of a different material than the packaging itself, making recycling more difficult. In view of the PPWR, this may soon affect the future-proofing of your packaging.”