If you’re interested in eco-friendly stickers that won’t harm the planet, you’re in the right place. We’re going to show you three 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.
Environmentally friendly stickers; breaking down the options
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 harm the environment. If it cannot be continued indefinitely, then it’s not sustainable.
Stickers are so often associated with plastic because, historically, they have been made with plastic materials. However, with incredible advancements in materials technology, alternatives are available.
What is the difference between; biodegradable, compostable & recyclable?
You will see these terms used a lot when searching for stickers, so we want to make it clear what each of them means and the differences you may find.
- Biodegradable stickers are capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. These are made from plant-based materials and avoiding pollution.
- Compostable stickers are capable of disintegrating 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.
- 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 we discuss on this page are both biodegradable and compostable, making them the most sustainable options.
What are the options?
We will discuss biodegradable & compostable stickers that use materials that get made from renewable sources. You can get plastic stickers that are recyclable. We don’t discuss them here as we offer great alternatives to plastic stickers 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 white | Clear | Sustainable wood-pulp | Gloss plastic-like feel | 6 months outdoors | Y | So clear, 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 use a material made from 95% sugarcane fibers and 5% of hemp and linen. It looks & feels like matte white paper. They’re 100% biodegradable and will decompose within just a few months – pretty incredible, eh!
They’re also more durable than regular paper stickers. They are splashproof, and you can use in the fridge & freezer, and the moisture won’t affect them.
This biodegradable paper-like material is printed in full color with UV-cured ink and no solvents that release harmful gasses.
To find out more about this material, see the Biodegradable Paper Datasheet or check out the stickers here.
Eco-friendly stickers
Eco-friendly stickers are made from sustainably sourced wood pulp, creating a white material with a gloss finish. It’s 100% compostable in industrial and home environments and will completely break down in about 12 weeks. See a cool timelapse 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.
It also means they’re suitable for outdoor use, up to 6 months, and are resistant to oils & grease.
Find out more by downloading the datasheet or check out the stickers here.
Eco-friendly clear stickers
These stickers are essentially the same as the stickers mentioned above. However, they are transparent.
So transparent you’ll be amazed there is wood in them at all.
They are 100% compostable in home and industrial environments and suitable for outdoor use for 6 months.
Find out more by downloading the datasheet or check out the stickers here.
The typical uses of each sticker type
To help you compare the options described, here are some of the typical uses:
| Biodegradable paper | Eco-friendly (white) | Eco-friendly (clear) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 labeling | Phone stickers | Phone stickers |
| Food takeaway | General logo stickers | Logo stickers |
And here are some images to get your creative juices flowing.
If you have any questions about the sustainability of stickers please get in touch with us.