Labels for Plastic Bottles and HDPE: Why Normal Stickers Fall Off
You put a label on a plastic bottle and it looked great. A week later it was curling off in your hand.
This happens all the time with plastic bottles. The label did not fail. It was the wrong label for that plastic.
Why some plastics are hard to stick to
Some plastics are slick on a microscopic level. The technical name is low surface energy. Adhesive needs to spread out and cling to a surface. On these plastics, it beads up instead, like water on a waxed car.
The common hard-to-label plastics:
- HDPE: milk jugs, detergent, shampoo and many supplement bottles.
- LDPE: squeeze bottles and soft tubes.
- Polypropylene (PP): many caps and tubs.
What goes wrong
A normal permanent paper label on HDPE may look stuck at first. Then it lifts at the edges over days, or when someone squeezes the bottle. That slow failure is what fools people.
What to use instead
1. An adhesive made for low surface energy plastics. This is a different glue from the everyday kind. It is designed to grip HDPE and PP.
2. Film instead of paper for squeezable bottles. A squeezable bottle flexes every time it is used. Film flexes with it. Paper does not.
3. A clean surface. Wipe with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. Skin oil and other residue weaken the bond.
4. The right size for the curve. Small tubes and bottles bend the label hard. See why labels peel on small bottles.
Our printable sheets are paper with a permanent adhesive, which is not the right match for HDPE and PP. For these jobs, we can print these for you, with film and the right adhesive. Use Request a quote and tell us the bottle, the plastic number if you know it, and what is inside.
How to find out which plastic you have
Flip the bottle over and look for a small triangle with a number.
- 2: HDPE
- 4: LDPE
- 5: polypropylene
Not all bottles are marked. If you are not sure, tell us what the bottle is and we will help.
How to apply a label to plastic
- Wipe the area with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry completely.
- Make sure the bottle and the label are at about the same temperature.
- Apply the label without stretching it.
- Press firmly along the whole label and the edges.
- Adhesive keeps building strength for a while after you apply it, so give it time before you judge the bond.
More in how to apply labels so they stay put.
Test before you label the whole batch
Plastic is where testing pays off most. Put a label on a bottle, give it some time, then try:
- Squeeze the bottle.
- Run a thumbnail along the edges.
- Wet it, or rub it with a bit of the product that goes inside.
If it still holds, you are good. If it lifts, you have saved yourself a batch of bad bottles. You can also order a $1 sample to test before you buy a lot.
Oily products
Lotion, oil and soap can creep under the edge of a label and weaken the bond. Film and a good adhesive stand up to this much better than paper. Keep product off the surface when you label.
Quick recap
- HDPE, LDPE and PP are slippery, so ordinary adhesive peels.
- Use a low surface energy adhesive.
- Use film on squeezable bottles.
- Clean with alcohol and press hard.
- Test one bottle first.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Why won't labels stick to HDPE?
HDPE is a low surface energy plastic. Ordinary adhesive cannot wet out on it, so the label looks stuck at first and then peels over days or when the bottle is squeezed.
Which plastics are hard to label?
HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene. Think milk jugs, shampoo and detergent bottles, and squeeze bottles.
What adhesive should I use on HDPE?
An adhesive made for low surface energy plastics. Ask for it by name when you request a quote.
Should I use paper or film on a squeezable bottle?
Film. A squeezable bottle flexes, and paper cannot flex with it.
How do I know what plastic my bottle is?
Look for the recycling number on the bottom. A 2 is HDPE, a 4 is LDPE and a 5 is polypropylene.
