The main difference between eco-friendly stickers and biodegradable stickers is the material they are made from.
Unlike traditional plastic stickers, sustainable stickers do not leave a mark on the environment. Eco-friendly stickers are from a bio-plastic, whereas biodegradable stickers consist of wood-free paper.
Want to know more? Then this article is just what you are looking for.
Eco-friendly vs. biodegradable stickers
Before we dive into the details, here is a quick overview of the difference between eco-friendly and biodegradable materials that can help you access which is the right fit for you:
| Features | Eco-friendly | Bio paper |
| Biodegradable |  |
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| Cert. compostable | |
|
| Recyclable |  |
|
| Metallic effects | |
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| Waterproof | |
|
| Weatherproof | |
|
| Outdoor use | |
|
| Extreme environments | |
|
Eco-friendly stickers
Our eco-friendly stickers consist of sustainably sourced wood pulp. This is a renewable resource that you can learn more about by visiting the British Wood Pulp Association.
The wood pulp-based material can then be used to create eco-friendly white as well as eco-friendly clear stickers, which feel and behave like plastic, but are completely compostable, making these stickers eco-friendly.
We have recently extended this range to include metallic colors. To create these, we use the white eco-friendly sticker as a base and then add a metalized film. This film is so thin that it will not interfere with the compostability of the sticker or label.
Want to see what they look like? Then check out our eco-friendly range.
Finally, we laminate this material with a biodegradable film, which makes these stickers durable and protects your design from scratches.
However, due to the nature of the material, we do not recommend using them outdoors or to submerge them in water as it can impact the adhesive and accelerate the decomposition process.
If you are looking to brand your product range with this material, we recommend opting for eco-friendly labels over stickers, as they are much easier to peel.
Biodegradable paper stickers
As the name suggests, biodegradable paper stickers are made of paper rather than bio plastics.
But this is not just any ordinary paper. We use a completely a mix of sugarcane, linen and hemp to make these stickers biodegradable.
Sugarcane is a by-product of the sugar production and can be reclaimed by turning it into paper. This makes our stickers much thicker than standard recycled paper stickers. You can find out more about what sugarcane is here.
The texture of this biodegradable paper material is amazing and naturally matte. This is why we do not laminate our biodegradable paper stickers, giving you a beautifully textured finish. Find out more about what a biodegradable sticker is.
Again, since these stickers have a paper base, we do not recommend using them outdoors.
We do, however, love using this material for anything from logo stickers to branding and even as decorative stickers.
Are both environmentally friendly stickers?
Yes, both options are made from natural materials, which makes these stickers compostable.
We use a biodegradable adhesive and vegan, UV cured inks on both materials, which means that you can put your eco-friendly and biodegradable paper stickers into your standard food waste bin. They will then take around 12 weeks to completely compose.
Are you ready to give them a try? Then check out our sustainable sticker options which are all shipped in sustainable packaging.
Do you need more information on sticker printing before making your decision? Learn about what makes stickers recyclable, the deal with plastic stickers and much more about our environmentally friendly stickers by visiting our blog.