Fully printed or with label: what you need to know before choosing

Fully printed packaging

With fully printed packaging, the entire surface is printed during production with your own design, logo, colors, and text. Rob: “Instead of a standard package with a separate label or sticker, the print is applied directly to the packaging material. This gives a professional, premium look and maximizes your brand’s visibility on the shelf.” But there are more important advantages, Rob adds: “It saves costs because there’s no need to design, produce, and apply a separate label. It’s also more environmentally friendly since the pouch is made from a single type of material, making recycling easier.” The new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) also sets strict requirements: starting in 2026, packaging must meet criteria such as Design for Recycling – using easily sortable materials, mono-material structures, and achieving a minimum recycling score of 70%. “This makes a fully printed pouch even more appealing: one material and no stickers that could disrupt recycling”, says Rob.

Packaging with label

Packaging with a label is a standard package onto which a printed label is applied after production. Rob: “The label typically includes your brand, product information, and possibly extra details such as ingredients or usage instructions. Since the packaging itself remains unprinted, it’s a flexible solution: the label can easily be updated for temporary promotions or changes in legislation.” However, there are downsides, he explains: “Labels add extra production costs and are often made from a different material than the packaging itself, which can make recycling more difficult. With the PPWR in mind, this could affect the long-term sustainability of your packaging.”