Sustainability
How Linerless Labels Reduce Packaging Waste by 40%
6 min read
UK Sticky Rolls
Traditional labels include a silicone-coated backing liner that you peel off and discard. That liner is wasted material, wasted storage, and wasted disposal cost. Linerless labels remove the backing entirely, which can cut label-related waste by roughly 40% in many operations.
Why Liner Waste Matters
- Backing liners are typically not recyclable in standard streams.
- Waste bins fill quickly during peak periods, creating handling friction.
- Packaging audits often treat liner as reportable waste.
Where the 40% Reduction Comes From
- No backing paper: the liner is removed from the system entirely.
- More labels per roll: linerless rolls hold up to 40% more labels, which reduces changeovers and disposal.
- Lower storage footprint: fewer rolls in, fewer pallets out.
Quick Calculation Example
If your site uses 500,000 labels per month, removing the liner can eliminate substantial waste and reduce roll change frequency. The exact savings depend on your current roll length, liner weight, and disposal costs. Use the Linerless Savings Calculator to model your own numbers.
Fastest Teams to Benefit
- High-volume shipping benches printing 4x6 labels during peak season
- Grocery markdown stations where liner waste piles up hourly
- QSR make-lines needing variable-length prep labels
Measurement Checklist
- Baseline liner waste (kg/month) and disposal costs.
- Roll-change frequency and downtime minutes saved.
- Space reclaimed in consumable storage.
- Operational feedback from the teams using the printers.
Proof in Practice
See how a major QSR chain eliminated 12 tonnes of label waste annually in our QSR case study.