What is the Advantage and Disadvantage of Custom BOPP Heat Seal Film

In today’s crowded marketplace, where first impressions can make or break a brand, the presentation of your products is paramount. Imagine a business card that gleams with a metallic finish or a product package that exudes luxury with its elegant, shiny accents. This is the transformative power of foil stamping printing—a technique that doesn’t just decorate but elevates your brand’s entire image.

For more information, please visit GT New Material.

Foil stamping goes beyond mere aesthetics in the printing and packaging industry. It’s a powerful tool that conveys quality, sophistication, and attention to detail. By incorporating a metallic or pigmented foil into your materials, you create an unforgettable visual impact that speaks volumes about your brand’s commitment to excellence.

This guide dives deep into the world of foil stamping printing. We’ll explore the different techniques—hot, cold, and digital foil stamping—their unique benefits, and how they can be applied to various projects to enhance your brand’s appeal. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your business cards, packaging, or promotional materials, understanding these techniques will give you the edge you need to stand out.

Overview of Foil Stamping Printing #

Definition

Foil stamping printing is a specialized technique that applies a thin layer of metallic or pigmented foil to a surface using heat and pressure. This process creates eye-catching, high-quality print materials that exude professionalism and luxury.

Best Used with:

Historical Background

Foil stamping dates back to the 19th century when it was a labor-intensive method reserved for special texts and high-end publishing. As technology advanced, the process became more efficient and accessible, revolutionizing the presentation of brands and products. Today, foil stamping is a staple in various industries, enhancing everything from book covers to product packaging.

Basic Process

The process of foil stamping involves several key steps:

This diagram illustrates the key components and workflow of the foil stamping process, including the foil holder, heating head, metallic foil, stock, and impression platform.

1. Creating the Die: A metal plate engraved with the desired design is prepared.
2. Heating the Die: The die is heated to the appropriate temperature.
3. Applying the Foil: The foil is placed between the die and the substrate.
4. Stamping: The heated die is pressed onto the foil, transferring it to the substrate under high pressure.
5. Final Product: The result is a precise, durable, and visually stunning imprint that stands out.

Common Materials and Substrates

Foil stamping can be applied to a variety of materials, each chosen based on the project’s requirements:

Foil Stamping on Fabric Foil Stamping on Leather Foil Stamping on Paper Foil Stamping on Velvet

• Paper and Cardstock: Ideal for business cards, invitations, and packaging. The smooth surface ensures a clean and sharp foil transfer.
• Leather: Used for luxury items such as book covers and high-end packaging, adding a touch of elegance.
• Plastic and Fabric: Suitable for unique applications like promotional items and branded apparel, offering versatility and durability.

Foil stamping is more than just a printing method; it’s a way to elevate your brand and make a lasting impression. By understanding its process, history, and applications, you can effectively leverage this technique to enhance your printed materials.

Detailed Explanation of Techniques #

Hot Foil Stamping

Definition and Process

Hot foil stamping uses heat and pressure to apply a metallic or pigmented foil to a surface. The process begins with a custom-made die, which is heated and then pressed onto the foil. The heat activates the adhesive on the foil, and the pressure transfers the foil onto the substrate, creating a precise and durable imprint that stands out.

Equipment and Materials Needed

• Heated die (typically brass, magnesium, or copper)
• Foil rolls (metallic or pigmented)
• Hot foil stamping machine
• Substrate (paper, cardstock, PET&PVC, Velvet, leather, etc.)

Advantages

• Creates sharp, detailed imprints
• Offers a variety of colors and finishes
• Ideal for intricate designs and fine text
• Durable and long-lasting

Cold Foil Stamping

Cold foil stamping, also known as cold foil printing, is a contemporary technique for applying metallic foil to a substrate to enhance the product’s aesthetic appeal. This method can be performed through two primary processes: the traditional dry lamination and the more versatile wet lamination, which is prevalent in the flexo label industry.

Definition and Process

Cold foil stamping involves printing an image onto a substrate using a UV-curable adhesive. The adhesive is printed in the desired pattern, and then the foil is pressed onto the adhesive and cured with UV light. This process is faster and more cost-effective compared to hot foil stamping.

Equipment and Materials Needed

• UV-curable adhesive
• Foil rolls (metallic or pigmented)
• Cold foil stamping machine
• UV light source
• Substrate (paper, plastic, etc.)

Advantages

• Faster and Cost-Effective: Cold foil stamping is quicker and less expensive than hot foil stamping, making it ideal for large production runs.
• Suitable for Heat-Sensitive Materials: This method is perfect for substrates that cannot withstand high temperatures.
• Versatile Applications: Cold foil stamping can be used on a variety of materials, including paper and plastic, and allows for overprinting with CMYK colors to achieve a wide range of metallic effects.

Comparison with Hot Foil Stamping

Cold foil stamping differs from hot foil stamping in several ways. While hot foil uses heat and pressure to bond the foil to the substrate, cold foil uses UV light to cure the adhesive. Cold foil can be applied before printing, allowing for inline overprinting and a broader spectrum of colors using CMYK. In contrast, hot foil stamping is typically done offline and has a limited color palette.

Comparison with Foil Board

Cold foil stamping offers more precise foil placement compared to foil board, which covers the entire sheet. This precision allows for sharp, clean printing on non-metallic areas and a metallic finish only where desired.

Compatibility with Coatings

Cold foil stamping is compatible with various coatings, including varnishes and UV coatings, providing flexibility in design and finish.

Environmental Considerations

Cold foil is environmentally friendly. The press sheets with foil can be recycled, and the polyester liner can also be recycled. UV inks used for overprinting emit little to no VOCs, contributing to sustainability.

Applications

Cold foil stamping is ideal for decorating brand logos, designs, and text on packaging, cards, and brochures. It is particularly beneficial for projects requiring quick turnaround times and those that need to maintain high visual appeal and quality.

By leveraging cold foil stamping, businesses can achieve impressive, high-quality metallic effects that enhance product appeal and brand recognition.

Digital Foil Stamping

Definition and Process
Digital foil stamping uses digital printing technology to apply foil without the need for traditional dies. The foil is printed directly onto the substrate using a digital printer, which allows for on-demand printing and variable data.

Equipment and Materials Needed

• Digital foil printer
• Foil rolls (metallic or pigmented)
• Substrate (paper, cardstock, etc.)

Advantages

• No need for custom dies, reducing setup time and cost
• Perfect for short runs and personalized prints
• High precision and intricate detail

Comparison of Hot, Cold, and Digital Foil Stamping

Key Differences in Process and Application

• Hot Foil Stamping: Uses heat and pressure; ideal for high-end, detailed designs.
• Cold Foil Stamping: Uses UV-curable adhesive; faster and suitable for heat-sensitive materials.
• Digital Foil Stamping: Uses digital printing technology; perfect for short runs and personalized projects.

Pros and Cons of Each Technique

• Hot Foil Stamping:
  • Pros: Sharp details, durable.
  • Cons: Higher setup cost and time.
• Cold Foil Stamping:
  • Pros: Cost-effective, fast.
  • Cons: Less detailed than hot stamping.
• Digital Foil Stamping:
  • Pros: Quick setup, no dies needed.
  • Cons: Not suitable for very large runs.

Guidelines for Choosing the Right Technique

• Choose hot foil stamping for projects requiring intricate details and a luxurious finish.
• Opt for cold foil stamping for cost-effective, high-volume production on heat-sensitive materials.
• Select digital foil stamping for short runs, personalized items, and quick turnaround times.

By understanding the distinct processes, benefits, and applications of hot, cold, and digital foil stamping, you can choose the best technique to meet your project’s specific needs and achieve the desired impact.

Foil Stamping Materials #

Foil stamping materials, commonly known as metallic foils, are essential in the post-press processing of printed items. The structure of these foils includes several key layers:

Structure of Aluminum Foil

Base Film Layer: The base film is made of polyester film, approximately 12.00μm thick, providing structural support.

Separation Layer: This is a crucial component, approximately 0.01μm thick, that ensures the base film can easily peel off during the stamping process. It also protects the foil layer during duplication, ensuring clear alignment of the foil with the printed text and images.

Pigment Coating: This is the ink layer, approximately 1.00μm thick, known for its gloss and durability. The pigment coating is the visible layer of the foil, protecting the aluminum and enhancing adhesion.

Metallic Layer (Aluminum Coating): This layer, approximately 0.02μm thick, is created by vapor depositing aluminum onto the pigment layer under high vacuum conditions using high-frequency electrical evaporation.

Adhesive Layer: The adhesive layer, approximately 1.50μm thick, enables the foil to bond to the substrate under pressure during stamping. It hardens at a specific temperature, with bonding strength surpassing that of the underlying pigment layer. The quality of this layer directly affects the stamping performance of the foil.

For substrates with deep textures such as leather and fabric, as well as materials with very dark colors, a thicker metallic layer and adhesive layer are necessary. This ensures that the underlying color does not show through, maintaining the integrity of the original color. The exact thickness can vary depending on the manufacturer, ensuring optimal performance and adhesion for different materials.

Classification and Applications of Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil can be classified by color, with gold being the most common. Other available colors include silver, red, orange, purple, blue, and black. In recent years, patterned aluminum foil has also emerged. Additionally, aluminum foil can be categorized based on its application in different fields, including paper, plastic, and leather products.

Series NameApplicatiProduct Application ScopeUniversal SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special PapersCP Film SeriesPVC/PET/PP films, Acrylic, Artificial Leathers, PU LeatherSemi-Matte SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special PapersFK SeriesCoarse Papers, Special Papers, Book Edges, Leathers, Napped Fabrics, Bookbinding Cloths, Touch Papers, Embossing Papers, UV varnished Surfaces, Velvet, RibbonPearlescent SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special PapersHolographic SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special PapersBrushed SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special Papers, LeatherColorful Foil SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Soft Touch PaperLow-Halogen SeriesCoarse Papers, Special Papers, Book Edges, Leathers, Napped Fabrics, Bookbinding Cloths, Touch Papers, Embossing Papers, UV varnished SurfacesCustomization SeriesNormal Paper, BOPP Matte & Glossy Lamination, Glossy & Matte Varnishing, Film Surfaces: PVC/PET/PP, Special Papers

Universal Series:

Explore a vast palette of thousands of colors, including vibrant brights, sophisticated mattes, dazzling lasers, and elegant transparents. Our hot stamping options are highly versatile, ensuring exceptional results across various applications. Choose from different types of silicones and release films to tailor the process to your needs. This series is suitable for hot stamping projects of any size—large, medium, or small.

Black Stamping Blue Stamping Cooper Stamping Gold Stamping Green Stamping Purple Stamping Red Stamping Silver Stamping

CP Film Series:

The CP Film Series is characterized by its strong adhesion, superior hot stamping quality, vivid colors, and exceptional versatility. This series is specifically designed for hot stamping on materials such as PVC, PET, and PP films, as well as acrylic, artificial leathers, and PU leather.

Blue Foiling Brown Foiling Cooper Foiling Gold Foiling Green Foiling Purple Foiling Red Foiling Silver Foiling

Semi-Matte Series:

The Semi-Matte Series strikes a perfect balance between glossy and matte finishes. It delivers a smooth, refined hot stamping effect with a strong texture, making it highly versatile for various applications. The results are consistently elegant and sophisticated, enhancing the visual appeal of any project.

Semi-Matte Blue Semi-Matte Cooper Semi-Matte Gold Semi-Matte Green Semi-Matte Light Brown Semi-Matte Pink Semi-Matte Red Semi-Matte Silver

FK Series：

The FK Series is distinguished by its exceptional coverage, superior hot stamping quality, and remarkable versatility. It also boasts impressive antioxidation properties, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. This series performs excellently on special materials such as coarse papers, special papers, book edges, leathers, napped fabrics, bookbinding cloths, touch papers, embossing papers, and UV varnished surfaces. Whether for large, medium, or small hot stamping projects, the FK Series delivers outstanding results across various substrates.

FK Blue FK Cooper FK Gold FK Grey FK Pink FK Purple FK Red FK Silver

Pearlescent Series:

The Pearlescent Series combines the shimmering effect of pearl-lustre powder with a range of vibrant pigments, delivering both a pearlescent and high-quality printing effect. With multiple colors available, this series offers excellent hot stamping results and versatility, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications.

Pearlescent Pink Pearlescent Cyan Pearlescent Gold Pearlescent Green Pearlescent Blue Pearlescent Brown Pearlescent Purple Pearlescent Yellow

Holographic Series:

Characterized by strong texture and exceptional visual effects, the Holographic Series offers a vibrant and dynamic appearance that stands out in any application. This series utilizes advanced holographic patterns to create a striking impact, making it ideal for projects that require a high level of visual appeal and sophistication.

Holographic Foiling with Brocken Glass Pattern Holographic Foiling with Dots Pattern Holographic Foiling with Rotation Square Pattern Holographic Foiling with Stars Pattern Holographic Green Foil Holographic Orange Foil Holographic Purple Foil Holographic Red Foil

Brushed Series:

The Brushed Series is characterized by a strong three-dimensional texture and delicate brushed finish, available in a variety of colors. This series ensures excellent hot stamping results, providing a refined and sophisticated look to any printed material. The finely textured effect and vivid colors make it versatile and highly effective for a wide range of applications.

Brushed Black Foil Brushed Gold Foil Brushed Red Foil Brushed Silver Foil

Colorful Foil Series:

The Colorful Foil Series is designed to deliver an array of visual effects, offering a unique and engaging sensory experience. Each foil color and pattern is meticulously crafted to create distinct aesthetics, enhancing the visual appeal of printed materials. This series is perfect for applications that require a high-impact visual presentation, ensuring your products stand out.

Low-Halogen Series

Our Low-Halogen Series offers exceptional coverage, superior stamping quality, and excellent versatility. This series is specifically designed to produce outstanding results on various materials, including those with complex textures. It ensures precise and intricate detailing while providing strong anti-oxidation properties.

Key Features:

• Free of halogen content, making it environmentally friendly.
• Strong covering ability, ensuring no substrate shows through.
• Excellent hot stamping performance, especially on special materials.
• Highly versatile with strong anti-oxidation capabilities, ensuring durability and longevity.

Low-Halogen Black Foil Low-Halogen Blue Foil Low-Halogen Gold Foil Low-Halogen Green Foil Low-Halogen Pink Foil Low-Halogen Red Foil Low-Halogen Silver Foil Low-Halogen Cyan Foil

In addition to the aforementioned series, we offer customized foil stamping solutions tailored to your specific needs. These bespoke materials not only achieve unique and exclusive effects but also provide robust anti-counterfeiting capabilities, ensuring your products are well-protected and difficult to replicate.

Benefits of Foil Stamping Printing #

Enhanced Visual Appeal

Metallic Sheen and Luxurious Finish

Foil stamping transforms ordinary print materials into visually stunning pieces. The metallic sheen and luxurious finish immediately catch the eye, giving your products an upscale, premium look. Whether it’s gold, silver, or vibrant holographic foils, the result is a high-end appearance that stands out in any setting.

Ability to Create Intricate and Detailed Designs

This technique allows you to achieve intricate and detailed designs that aren’t possible with traditional printing methods. Fine lines, complex patterns, and detailed textures can all be rendered with precision, adding a level of sophistication and craftsmanship to your materials.

Impact on Consumer Perception and Brand Image

Foil stamping isn’t just about looks—it’s about perception. When consumers see your foil-stamped products, they associate them with quality and attention to detail. This positive perception enhances your brand image, making your products more desirable and trustworthy.

Durability and Quality

Increased Resistance to Wear and Tear

One of the standout benefits of foil stamping is its durability. The foil creates a robust layer that protects your printed materials from wear and tear. This means your business cards, packaging, and promotional items will remain pristine and professional-looking even after repeated handling.

Longevity of Foil Stamped Materials

Foil-stamped items are built to last. The durable foil layer ensures that your designs stay intact and vibrant over time, extending the lifespan of your materials. This longevity means your investment in foil stamping continues to pay off, preserving the integrity of your brand’s presentation.

Versatility in Applications

Suitable for a Wide Range of Products and Materials

Foil stamping is incredibly versatile, suitable for a wide variety of products and materials. Whether it’s paper, cardstock, leather, or plastic, this technique adapts seamlessly, making it a valuable tool for enhancing numerous items.

By leveraging foil stamping, you can ensure your products not only capture attention but also convey a sense of quality and sophistication across various applications. This technique offers a unique way to differentiate your brand and leave a lasting impression on your customers.

Applications of Foil Stamping in Various Industries #

Packaging Industry

Enhancing Product Packaging for Luxury Items

Foil stamping transforms ordinary packaging into a luxurious experience. By adding metallic or pigmented foil, you instantly elevate the perceived value of your products. This is especially beneficial for high-end items like cosmetics, gourmet chocolates, and premium beverages, where the packaging itself speaks volumes about the quality inside.

Examples of Successful Foil Stamped Packaging Designs

An exquisite example of foil-stamped packaging, featuring gold foil accents on a floral design.

Consider a premium wine box adorned with gold foil accents. The shiny, reflective surface not only catches the eye but also conveys a sense of elegance and sophistication. Similarly, high-end skincare products wrapped in meticulously designed foil-stamped boxes enhance the product’s allure and appeal, making them stand out on the shelf.

Marketing and Branding

Business Cards, Brochures, and Promotional Materials

In marketing, first impressions are everything. Foil stamping on business cards, brochures, and promotional materials creates a memorable impact. The metallic finish communicates profession

Breaking Down the Differences Between PP, OPP, and BOPP Bags

In virtually every industry, strategic packaging materials influence everything from product safety to supply chain mobility to how a product sells. 

This makes selecting the right bag for your industry or application essential for success. 

After all, today’s bags aren’t just bags. Far from it. Modern bulk bags, such as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), have been exhaustively engineered and tested by experts to work well under specific conditions. 

For your bag to work well under your specific conditions (e.g., where your warehouse is located, what type of filling apparatus you use, the nature of your product), you need to know which type of bag you need. 

Knowing how to tell if your specific type of bag is well made? Also key.

Here’s a quick primer on three types of bags that are overwhelmingly popular across several industries and how to determine which type is perfect for your needs. 

What are PP, OPP, and BOPP bags? 

Let’s start with some definitions. 

The letters “PP” in PP, OPP, and BOPP stand for polypropylene. Polypropylene is a polymer that is strong, resistant to many chemicals, and has favorable heat and barrier properties. 

In other words: It makes for a durable and versatile bag. Polypropylene is often used to make coatings, films, tapes, and printed FIBCs on a mass scale. 

Polypropylene can be manipulated to produce OPP and BOPP materials, or oriented and biaxially oriented polypropylene. 

Oriented polypropylene

, or OPP, is a type of polypropylene film that is stretched in one direction. This offers better strength, clarity, and printability when compared to PP film. OPP tends to be used for labels and small film bags. 

Biaxially oriented polypropylene

, or BOPP, is a type of polypropylene film that’s been stretched in two perpendicular directions. This offers even more strength, printability, and clarity when compared to PP and OPP materials. BOPP film is used to laminate over woven tapes often used in packaging. And because BOPP has innate printability, it’s commonly used for intricate branding and printing details on midsize or large bulk packages.

Which Industries are PP, OPP, and BOPP Bags Good For? 

As we mentioned above, each type of bag is great for specific applications, as each offers unique strengths. 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Custom BOPP Heat Seal Film.

It’s worth discussing with your FIBC supplier which type of bag will work best for you, but here’s a quick overview: 

Polypropylene (PP) bags are great for FIBCs, sandbags, and geotextiles. They’re fantastic multipurpose bags because they’re versatile, durable, and cost-effective. 

Oriented polypropylene (OPP) bags excel when used to create small packaging materials, often in the medical, pharmaceutical, and food industries—particularly when they don’t need to carry much weight. 

Biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) bags are best suited for packaging that needs many of the same qualities as OPP bags but also must support more weight. BOPP film is often used with woven tapes to create durable packaging materials. BOPP film is especially common in the pet food and food ingredient industries because they require bags that can carry 25-50 lbs.

The Pros and Cons of PP, OPP, and BOPP Bags

When you choose a specific type of bag, you need all of the information in front of you. 

We’ve discussed general definitions of each type of bag and the industries they support best. To round out this guide, here’s a quick rundown of the pros and cons of each type of bag (save this post for later reference): 

PP Woven Bags with PP Lamination 

Pros and Cons: 

PP bags are sustainable, moisture-resistant, durable, and chemical-resistant. 

They’re also highly flammable, offer limited printability, and do not necessarily protect existing printing detail. 

OPP Film Bags

Pros and Cons: 

OPP film bags are strong, hard to puncture or tear, and have a transparent, glossy finish. These bags are also moisture- and dust-proof.

OPP film bags are difficult to stretch, and there’s a limit to how much weight they can carry.

BOPP Bags

Pros and Cons: 

BOPP bags provide high tensile strength, excellent clarity, and a high degree of dimensional stability and flatness. 

These bags have a low electrostatic charge, present a barrier to water vapor, and are resistant to oils and greases. 

Aesthetically, BOPP bags provide several perks: They have a high-gloss finish, offer reverse printing ability, and perform well in high-speed printing applications.

Finally, BOPP bags are not affected by moisture. They don’t wrinkle or shrink with environmental changes. Plus, they’re recyclable!

The disadvantages are limited, but BOPP bags are not biodegradable. However, they are considered recyclable and classified in the No. 5 plastic recycling stream accepted by some recycling facilities.

One long-standing disadvantage of BOPP bags was sealing. However, Sonoco has recently announced the first heat-sealable BOPP barrier bag available for industrial bulk packaging applications, such as animal and pet food manufacturing.  

Choose the Right Bag for Your Needs with Sonoco

Need help figuring out which bag is best for you? Consider these questions: 

What grade of safety does your product require (e.g., food-grade, medical-grade)?

How important is crystal-clear branding for your product’s success? 

Think about the equipment and processes you already have in place. Do you heat-seal your bags, for example? 

Do you require a specifically sized bag? 

If you’re interested in speaking with a packaging expert to determine the best bag for your needs, reach out to Sonoco. Our friendly representatives and materials science engineers will be more than happy to discuss your packaging needs! 

The print effect with an outer Matte BOPP film

Matte-BOPP-film

Matte BOPP film is widely applied in flexible packaging to create matte finish surface for final packages.

Matte BOPP film is realized in matte finish for the outside, however high glossy for the inner side, so the inks can be well coated on the inner side by rotogravure printing.

Matte-BOPP-Film-inner-glossy

When the artwork is print on high glossy film, the effect is glossy vivid, and then we cover a layer of Matte BOPP film on the left part, you can obser the “XON” wording, the glossy red becomes a little dark, this is the matte finish effect.

Artwork-print-with-Matte-BOPP-covered

So, when you choose matte finish effect for your package, the final colors will be surely weakened by the matte finish than original colors. You can not achieve the matte finish without weakening the original colors.

Previously, we a customer from Aulstralia, who want to customize his coffee package, and he choose the matte finish effect. Below is the artwork design for his box bottom coffee bag.

artwork-Coffee-package-MAD-ABOUT-BREW

Before he placing the order, we reminded him that the final effect will be surely weakened as of the extra Matte BOPP film, and seems he did not get a good understanding on this. So when the final package is realized in matte finish, as below video. He believed we altered the colors of his artwork, and blamed us for bad work.

Final Print effect for Mad-About-Brew Coffee package

Surely, there is some color tolerence for the jpg file and the camera, but, we really did not alter any colors of his artwork, and we printed his artwork according to the printed effect on photo paper, which should be the most ideal effect. The only problem is, the orginal colors are weakened by the matte finish.

Finally, we came to a dispute that can not make the order move on. At his request, we refund the left money to his account (deducting the money that is spent on the sample produce.), and then this order came to a hault.

So, by this post, we sincerely hope the customers would be able to get a good understanding on the effect of Matte BOPP film, that is essential to finalize a good package.

BOPP is often the go-to material for film labels

As you dig into labeling options for your product container, you’ll see one term pop up again and again: BOPP. It stands for biaxially oriented polypropylene, and it’s an incredibly popular label material.

There are countless benefits to choosing BOPP for your product label —  printability, durability and customizability, just to name a few. Like anything, BOPP has its limitations, but across container types, product categories and label designs, you’ll find BOPP specified as the facestock more times than not.   

BOPP is polypropylene film which is stretched in both machine and cross directions during production. And a lot of the differences between BOPP and other films can be traced back to this manufacturing method.

BOPP Vs. Alternative Films

The biaxial orientation of BOPP material aligns the polymer chains, increasing the film’s modulus and tensile strength. Machine-direction oriented (MDO) films, which are stretched in only one direction, are less rigid and more conformable than BOPP. Unoriented films offer great conformability for squeezable containers but are less easily printed and dispensed.

The manufacturing method of the film, and the inherent properties of polypropylene films, lend BOPP labels a range of properties like:

Clarity, allowing brands to achieve the “no-label” look.

Water, UV and chemical resistance, making BOPP suitable for even the most acidic products and moist environments.

Excellent printability, especially as BOPP is often equipped with a topcoat which anchors the ink to the surface of the film.

Rigidity, making BOPP labels easy to die-cut, dispense and apply the label to your container.

Is BOPP Right For Your Label?

Label material selection is about finding a construction that works with your container shape, meets your aesthetic preferences, will perform in your product’s environment (e.g., shower, outdoors, kitchen cupboard, etc.) and fits within your packaging budget.

You’ll start with your label vision — how you want your label to look — and then find those materials that will bring it to life without wrinkling, degrading or popping off your container throughout the entire product lifecycle:, which includes manufacturing, storage, shipping, retail display and customer use.

Material selection conversations never start with, “Do I use BOPP or another material?” BOPP is chosen so often simply because it checks all of the boxes in many situations, is widely available and competitively priced. 

Film labels (including BOPP, PE, PO and vinyl) tend to be more expensive than paper labels. And within BOPP materials, costs will vary slightly depending on color (metallized, clear or white) and gauge (thickness). Ultimately, though, the most important factor affecting label costs is order size. The larger the order, the smaller the per-label cost difference between label materials will be.

When You Shouldn’t Use BOPP

During the selection process your label converter will typically ask questions like:

Do you have a non-standard container (e.g., tubes and highly contoured containers)?

Is your container squeezable?

In what environment will your product be used?

Can you describe your vision for the look of your label? 

If you answered “yes” to the first two questions, you shouldn’t choose BOPP. For highly contoured or squeezable containers, non-rigid, conformable films like PE and polyolefin (PO) are your best bet.

In regard to environment, BOPP will degrade in the extreme conditions. If your product will be used or stored outdoors, you’d do well by choosing a vinyl or polyester label film instead. But in practically every other situation, BOPP will work just fine — and the decision about whether or not to use it boils down to budget and aesthetic preferences.

Want a rich, textured feel? Then estate paper is a good choice. Need a bar code label? A cheaper paper label will probably suffice. Want your consumers to see directly into the container? Then clear BOPP is perfect. 

Nearly any label vision can be brought to life with BOPP. About the only thing you can’t do is emboss them. They’re easily die-cut, meaning you can get BOPP labels in any custom shape. You can choose between removable or permanent adhesives, depending on what your application requires. And you can choose between three colors: Clear BOPP to achieve the “no-label” look, silver BOPP for a premium, metallic sheen or white BOPP to make your label graphics pop on the shelf.

Achieving “No-Label” Look

Clear BOPP labels can be designed, printed and applied to give the illusion that the graphics are directly printed on the product container. To achieve this look, you’ll need to carefully consider your graphics, container and the color of your product.

Your label design should have thick lines, larger text and high-contrast colors outlining any art (e.g., a dark green leaf outlined with a lighter green color). All art should be in contrast to the color of the container or the product, if visible. And this look is best achieved on smooth, shiny surfaces like glass, rigid plastic and coated paperboard.   

Starting with silver BOPP, you can achieve a wide range of packaging looks. You’ll block out the silver using opaque white ink under where you’ll print your artwork, so it pops. Then you can either leave the unprinted areas silver, or you can print over them with translucent CMYK inks to achieve any gold or copper tone, or to add a metallic sheen to any other color.  

Make Your Labels Pop

Varnishes and protective laminate layers are essential on BOPP labels to prevent ink from scratching and running. But it doesn’t have to be a purely functional feature. You can use contrasting spot and gloss varnishes, and combinations of both to highlight features in your artwork.

Gloss finishes create reflective, eye-catching labels. Matte finishes over metallic BOPP diffuse the light and give the labels a soft glow. On clear BOPP labels, you can use a slightly textured, matte varnish over your label for a tactile papery feel.

So why is BOPP the go-to material for film labels? Well, to put it simply, it’s easily customized, it looks good on the shelf and it performs in almost every product use environment.

Sustainability Drive Is Good News for BOPP Film

The global Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) film market has seen demand grow by just under 5 percent per annum over the last five years. The main driver of growth has been the demand for flexible packaging, particularly in China and South East Asia, according to Wood Mackenzie’s latest ‘BOPP Film Global Supply Demand Report’.

The BOPP film industry, worth in the region of $15 billion, delivered over 8.4 million tonnes in . The global market is currently well-supplied, dominated by China and the growing influence of Indian-owned producers who continue to expand their operations globally.  Global demand for BOPP film is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 4.7 percent annually over the next five years to .

The issue of recycling and sustainability has, in certain applications, favored BOPP film over other polymer films. Multinational brands are looking to film producers and converters to provide monomaterial plastic packaging solutions to meet sustainability commitments.

Overcoming Plastics Backlash

Global BOPP film demand continues to see healthy growth despite the backlash against plastic packaging. In fact, the issue of recycling and sustainability has created a favorable set of circumstances for the BOPP film sector. As part of a circular economy, brands are being pressured to find more environmentally-friendly ways of packaging their products. This has caused a shift in focus from multi-material and multi-layer laminates, which are currently non-recyclable, to monomaterial laminates.

“The fact that BOPP film is part of the wider polyolefin chemical family means it can be laminated, with polyethylene film for example, and still be widely accepted in today’s recycling waste stream. Our research indicates that, in certain applications, the consumption of BOPP film has benefitted from this sustainability drive at the expense of other polymers,” said Robert Gilfillan, Wood Mackenzie head of Films & Flexibles.

Flexible packaging will continue to be the key end-use sector for BOPP film. The need for transparent commodity film, which is often used in food packaging, is expected to drive future demand. With a positive short-term outlook, investment opportunities within the sector are becoming more attractive.

The company is the world’s best Transparent BOPP Film supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.