Types Of Shrink Sleeve
What Is Shrink Sleeve？
A shrink sleeve (also called a shrink label or heat shrink sleeve) is a type of packaging label made from a heatsensitive plastic film that tightly conforms to the shape of a container when heat is applied. Shrink sleeve provide 360degree coverage of the package, allowing fullcolor graphics, tamperevident features, and coverage over complex shapes.
Classification of shrink sleeve
The application of shrink sleeve is ubiquitous in daily life. As for how to classify them, some say by material, some by use, some by container shape, etc. The following is a structured overview of the main types, materials, and special variations.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Pros: Cost-effective, good shrink properties, widely used.
Cons: Environmental concerns (chlorinated polymer), less heat-resistant than some alternatives.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified)
Pros: Good clarity, excellent shrink characteristics, recyclable in some streams, better heat resistance than PVC shrink sleeve.
Cons: Generally higher cost than PVC.
OPS (Oriented Polystyrene)
Pros: Very lightweight, good shrink performance on certain shapes.
Cons: Lower clarity and less common; more brittle than PETG shrink sleeve.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Pros: Bio-based and compostable under industrial composting conditions; used where sustainability is prioritized.
Cons: Limited heat tolerance and recycling infrastructure; can be more expensive.
Polyolefin (POF / Polyolefin Film)
Pros: High shrink force, excellent clarity, good for tamper bands and tight conforming on complex shapes; increasingly recyclable.
Cons: Cost varies; sometimes requires different printing/processing settings.
CMYK / Process Printed shrink sleeve
– Full-color photographic printing using flexographic or rotogravure printing methods.
Spot Color / Pantone Matching
– For precise brand colors—often combined with varnishes or special effects.
Special Effects
– Metallic inks, cold foiling, embossing (on the product before sleeving), varnishes, soft-touch coatings, and tactile finishes.
Variable Data Printing
– Batch codes, QR codes, barcodes, promotional serial numbers or unique identifiers are printed or applied.
Cylindrical Containers
– Easiest to sleeved; minimal distortion and high-quality appearance.
Conical / Tapered Containers
– Requires films with higher shrink ratio and careful process control.
Complex or Irregular Shapes
– Needs shrink sleeve with excellent shrinkability and conformability (often PETG or POF) and optimized heat application.
Shrink Ratio (e.g., 2:1, 3:1)
– Indicates how much the film can shrink relative to the original dimensions. Higher ratios are needed for complex shapes or tapered containers.
Gauge / Film Thickness
– Thicker films may provide better durability or opacity; thinner films reduce cost and may shrink faster.
Clarity & VOCs
– Some films offer crystal-clear appearance; choice can affect environmental compliance (solvent-based inks, VOC emissions).
Compatibility with Filling Line
– shrink sleeve length, pre-cut vs. roll-stock, application speed, and heat source must fit the production line.
Full-Body Shrink Sleeve
– Cover the entire height and circumference of the container for 360° graphics and maximum shelf appeal.
Partial-Body / Front-and-Back shrink sleeve
-Cover only part of the container (e.g., front and back panels), reducing material and cost while still giving a premium look.
Tamper-Evident / Security shrink bands
– Small sleeves applied over caps or necks that tear or split when opened, indicating tampering.
bottle top & top shrink wrap
– Specifically sized to cover the neck and cap area for branding and tamper evidence.
Multi-Pack / Handle Sleeves
– Sleeves that bind several containers together for multipacks or include a handle feature.
Promotional / Short-Run shrink sleeve
– Printed for seasonal promotions, contests, or variable data (e.g., codes), often in shorter production runs.
Heat Tunnel Shrinking
– Most common industrial method: sleeves pass through a heated tunnel to activate shrinking.
Steam Shrinking
– Used for delicate substrates or where very even heat distribution is needed. Steam produces rapid shrink without hot spots.
Hot Air (Blower) Shrinking
– Localized hot air nozzles focus heat where needed—useful for irregular shapes.
Beverages (bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages)
– Often full-body or partial-body shrink sleeve with vibrant graphics.
Food (sauces, condiments, spreads)
– Tamper-evident neck bands and full-body shrink sleeve for branding and product information.
Personal Care & Cosmetics
– Premium finishes, special effects, and complex shapes requiring high-conformability films.
Household & Chemicals
– Often robust films with clear regulatory/ingredient printing and tamper evidence.
Pharmaceuticals / Medical
– Tamper-evident neck/cap shrink sleeve , often with high regulatory printing clarity.
– Recyclability varies by material (PETG and some polyolefins are more recyclable than PVC).
– Compostable options (PLA) exist but require industrial composting and separate collection.
– Reduction strategies include partial shrink sleeve, thinner films, or sleeves designed to be compatible with container recycling.
