Spectra’s dedicated in-house print capability can provide a range of innovative solutions for brands wishing to move away from labelling their packaging.
As customers continue to explore responsible ways to package their goods, it’s also worth considering the environmental impact of branding those products.
Although many customers opt for labelling their bottles, this process can throw up some environmental questions worth taking into account when compared to printing directly on to a pack.
For example, printing directly can avoid the use of potentially non-compatible label materials that may hamper the recycling process. This can prove problematic if the label needs removing prior to the bottle being recycled again for further use.
Another factor to take into account is the additional processes involved in using labels. These include the initial printing of the labels themselves prior to being applied to the bottles, a process that sometimes has to be done manually. Furthermore, the labelling process occasionally requires additional transportation from one facility to another which can increase carbon footprint.
Printing directly onto a pack can also reduce expensive wastage. Because Spectra manages any waste, customers get the exact amount of products they ordered, with imperfect products segregated out for recycling. However, a filled bottle that has an imperfect label applied is often scrapped, proving commercially expensive and environmentally wasteful.
Jonathan Powell, Sales Director at Spectra said, “Having our own dedicated print facility provides our customers with a number of environmental benefits. Because Spectra can mould and decorate bottles under one roof, we can minimise the need for additional processes and unnecessary transportation. What’s more, printing adds virtually no additional gram weight to products, an important factor to consider when looking to reduce one’s carbon footprint”.
As well as the environmental benefits direct printing offers, there are also other factors to consider. Direct printing is not only durable against scuffing, weather, UV light and water resistant, it also provides a superior finish to labelling, particularly for brands seeking a premium packaging appearance. With no unsightly air pockets, wrinkles or bubbles that can detract from the quality of the design, direct printing arguably creates a higher perceived value for products.
Over recent years Spectra has developed a wide range of print finishes to give brands genuine differentiation in acutely competitive markets. In addition to pin-sharp 4 pass silk-screen printing and premium-look hot foil blocking, Spectra has also been at the forefront in pioneering numerous innovative print finishes, including 360-degree circumference seamless printing, UV anti-counterfeiting inks, colour changing effects and high build braille print.
Jonathan went on to say, “We firmly believe printing directly onto a pack will always provide a better finish to a customers pack and because our in-house service eliminates the inconvenience of having to liaise with more than one supplier, there is more flexibility with lead times”.
