Why Label Perfectly Packaged Products?

This month, Christa Bakker, a columnist for Packaging Innovations, delves into the practice of labeling products that are already perfectly packaged. She highlights the environmental issues caused by stickers on fruit and suggests possible alternatives. Her column, published in collaboration with VNV (Vereniging van Nederlandse Verpakkingskundigen), discusses the unnecessary use of labels on fruits that are already well-protected by their natural packaging.

In her article, Christa shares a personal anecdote from the supermarket where she encountered a product that was already in a perfect package—protected by its peel, which also hydrates and cools the fruit. Despite this, someone decided to add a label with specific lettering and color that perfectly matches the product's appearance. The label is made of double-layered plastic with a paper top layer, which can cause significant problems when composted due to its small size and inability to pass through filters.

Biodegradable labels are recommended for food products but can also contribute to microplastic pollution due to suboptimal conditions in composting facilities. This issue raises concerns about the environmental impact of seemingly well-intentioned practices. Additionally, etching or laser marking fruit to make it identifiable to cashiers can result in microscopic damage to the peel, potentially inviting mold and bacteria.

Christa suggests that in most cases, label-free packaging could suffice. For instance, loose oranges on a shelf could have enough space on shelf cards to communicate all necessary information without labels. She concludes that labels should be used only when there is a genuine need, such as for children's products.

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