Environmentally Friendly Stickers; Breaking Down The Options
Many sticker manufacturers only offer plastic stickers. But not us.
If you’re interested in sustainable stickers that won’t harm the planet, you’re in the right place.
We’re going to show you 3 options that, between them, are suitable for nearly every application out there, giving you the confidence you can buy eco-friendly stickers that don’t harm the environment.
What are environmentally friendly stickers?
Environmentally friendly. Eco-friendly. Sustainable. What do they all mean?
The overriding principle is that they’re stickers that don’t negatively impact the environment. If it cannot be continued indefinitely, then it’s not sustainable.
Stickers are often associated with plastic because, historically, they have been made with plastic materials. However, with incredible advancements in materials and technology, alternatives are available.
What is the difference between; biodegradable, compostable & recyclable?
You'll see these terms used a lot when searching for stickers, so we want to clarify what each of them means, and the differences you may find in the stickers.
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Biodegradable stickers are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. These are made from plant-based materials that avoid plastic pollution. Find out more on our article on what you need to know about biodegradable stickers.
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Compostable stickers can disintegrate into natural elements in a compost environment, leaving no toxicity in the soil. This happens in around 90 days. These stickers are made from plant-based materials.
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Recyclable stickers can be processed to make them suitable for reuse, sometimes over & over again. These will be made of plastic that can be recycled. Local recycling rules determine how it’s recycled.
To summarise, biodegradable & compostable stickers are made from plant materials, whereas recyclable stickers are made from plastic that can be recycled.
All sticker options discussed on this page are biodegradable and compostable, making them the most sustainable options.
What are the options?
We will discuss biodegradable & compostable stickers that use materials that are made from renewable sources. You can get plastic stickers that are recyclable, but we don’t discuss them here as we offer great plastic alternatives made from sustainably sourced wood pulp.
Here is an overview for your convenience:
| Sticker | Colour | Made from | Finish | Durability | Waterproof | Best feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable paper | White | 95% sugarcane | Matte paper | 2 years indoors | X (splashproof) | Strong white, matte finish |
| Eco-friendly white | White | Sustainable wood-pulp | Gloss plastic-like feel | 6 months outdoors | Y | Durable, great plastic sticker replacement |
| Eco-friendly effect | Clear, gold, silver, glitter or holographic | Sustainable wood-pulp | Gloss plastic-like feel | 6 months outdoors | Y | You’ll be amazed it’s made from wood pulp! |
You can read about each of these materials in detail below.
Biodegradable paper stickers
Biodegradable paper stickers are made from 95% sugarcane fibres and 5% of hemp and linen. It looks & feels like a matte white paper. They’re 100% biodegradable and will decompose within months.
They’re also more durable than regular paper stickers. They are splashproof and can be used in the fridge & freezer, and the moisture won’t affect them.
This biodegradable paper material is printed in full colour with compostable ink with no solvent, releasing harmful gasses.
To find out more about this material, see the Biodegradable Paper Datasheet or check out the stickers.
Eco-friendly stickers
Eco-friendly stickers are made from a sustainably sourced wood pulp that creates a white material with a gloss finish. It’s 100% compostable in both industrial and home environments and will break down completely, in about 12 weeks. See a time lapse of it composting here.
This new ground-breaking material is a perfect sustainable option. It looks and feels like a plastic sticker but is amazingly environmentally friendly.
This also means they’re suitable for outdoor use for up to 6 months and are resistant to oils & grease.
Find out more by downloading the datasheet or check out our eco-friendly white stickers.
Eco-friendly effect stickers
These stickers are essentially the same as the stickers mentioned above. However, we slighlty modified the material to give you a range of amazing effects like clear, holographic, glitter, gold and silver.
They are so stunning, you’ll be amazed they’re made from wood pulp.
They are compostable and are suitable for outdoor use for up to 6 months.
Find out more by downloading the datasheet or check out our eco-friendly stickers range.
The typical uses of each sticker
To help you compare what each of the options we’ve just described is used for, here are some of the typical uses of each:
| Biodegradable paper | Eco-friendly (white) | Eco-friendly (effect) |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled product packaging | Biodegradable product packaging | Window stickers |
| Beverage bottles | Premium product labels, e.g. candles | Glass beverage bottle labels |
| Jars & other food products | Laptop stickers | Laptop stickers |
| Address labelling | Phone stickers | Phone stickers |
| Food takeaway | General logo stickers | Logo stickers |
If you have any questions about our sustainable range of stickers and labels, please get in contact with us. In the meantime, check out our answers to your top questions about sustainable stickers and labels.