What materials are suitable for food, pharmaceutical, and electronic product labels respectively?

Different industries, different logic for label material selection

The requirements for labels in the three major industries of food, pharmaceuticals, and electronics each have their own focus. The core for food is food safety compliance, for pharmaceuticals it is traceability system and sterilization tolerance, and for electronic products it is heat resistance and insulation. Below, we analyze the key points for material selection by industry.

Food industry labels: safety compliance is the first threshold

According to the GB 4806 series standards, label materials that come into contact with food must meet sensory requirements and migration limits. PET and PP both comply with food contact safety requirements and are suitable as face materials for labels that directly contact food. Coated paper laminated can be used for non-direct contact scenarios but is not recommended for direct food contact. Inks must also be food-grade—the printed surface cannot directly contact the food, and a barrier layer is required in between. Labels for frozen foods (such as ice cream and frozen dumplings) require synthetic paper face material with freezer-grade adhesive to ensure the adhesive does not fail at -18°C to -25°C. For hot-fill products (such as sauces and beverages), it is necessary to confirm whether the label can withstand the filling temperature (typically 60-85°C).

Pharmaceutical industry labels: dual requirements of traceability and sterilization

Pharmaceutical labels must simultaneously meet drug traceability and sterilization environment requirements. The electronic drug monitoring code (20-digit numeric code) is a national requirement for a one-item-one-code traceability system. The label face material must support clear digital printing and QR code scanning. The sterilization method affects material selection: ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization requires the face material to be resistant to chemical gases; high-temperature steam sterilization requires materials that withstand 134°C; irradiation sterilization requires confirmation that the material does not change color due to radiation. The ISO 11607 standard has clear requirements for medical device packaging and labeling. Pharmaceutical labels typically choose PET or synthetic paper face material combined with permanent adhesive to ensure the label does not fall off throughout the entire lifecycle of transportation, storage, and use. The label size must be sufficient to accommodate statutory information such as the monitoring code, batch number, and expiration date.

Electronic product labels: heat resistance and insulation are key indicators

Electronic product labels face two challenges: they may pass through reflow soldering or wave soldering (instantaneous high temperature of 260°C) during production, and they must maintain insulation performance during use. Ordinary PET labels withstand 120°C; for high-temperature soldering scenarios, polyimide (PI) labels should be used, which can withstand temperatures above 300°C. Electronic product labels also need to meet flame retardant requirements (UL certification), and the adhesive must not contain corrosive components to avoid damaging the circuit board. Battery labels additionally need to meet UN38.3 transportation safety standards. Products in electrostatic-sensitive areas require anti-static label materials to prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging components.

Cross-industry general material selection suggestions

Regardless of the industry, label material selection can be evaluated from four dimensions: 1) Compliance—whether it meets the regulatory requirements of the target market; 2) Environmental adaptability—temperature, humidity, chemical exposure, etc.; 3) Durability—how long the label needs to remain effective; 4) Cost—choose the most economical solution while meeting the first three conditions. LeXiang Packaging provides full-process services from material recommendation to printing delivery, supporting digital printing for small batch proofing, confirming materials and effects before mass production.