Linerless labels are pressure-sensitive labels without a release liner or adhesive backing. A special coating is applied to the face of the label that prevents adhesion. These labels are made up of three layers: release topcoat, facestock, and adhesive.
Linerless labels are wound up in a roll without the backing of a release liner. Similar to the functioning of self-adhesive tape, these labels have a special release coating applied on the front of the facestock to prevent the adhesive from sticking to the label.
Linerless labels are cheaper than labels with release liners; they weigh less and are eco-friendly as they eliminate the waste caused by the disposal of release liners. Both sides of a linerless label can be printed as the release coating and adhesive are applied after the printing process, unlike release liner labels.
Durability, aesthetic appeal, and the sustainable nature of raw materials determine their applicability in linerless labels and accelerate their demand.
MarketsandMarkets expects the global linerless labels market size to grow from USD 1.7 billion in 2021 to USD 2.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2026. The market for linerless labels is segmented, based on printing ink, into water-based, UV curable, solvent-based, and others.
Water-based printing inks has been the largest market in 2021. The high consumption of water-based inks in the label printing market can be attributed to its high compliance with current environmental protection standards.
However, the market for water-based inks is witnessing a lower growth rate than UV curable inks due to the presence of water in ink slowing down the evaporation rate from the printed film, therefore, limiting the print speed. Hence, it becomes essential for printer converters to equip their press with adequate dryers.
The use of water-based inks will help eliminate pollution and many of the regulatory constraints on the printer. Water-based inks are widely used for printing on paper and paperboard as they readily absorb the ink.
Based on end-use industry, food segment is projected to be the larger segment in the linerless labels market. The demand from the food industry is expected to experience a higher growth rate, mainly because of the growing demand for packaged and branded products and consumer awareness toward the authenticity of the product.
The fruit & vegetable industry has a huge demand for linerless labels, as they help specify the quality, source of the fruit/vegetable, and price. Meat and poultry products are packed in a tray with a film wrapped around them; linerless labels are used to specify the manufacturing company, weight, expiry, and other details about the product.
The linerless labels market is studied for five regions, namely, North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East & Africa and South America. The Europe region accounted for the largest market share in 2020, in terms of both value and volume.
Furthermore, the market for linerless labels in the APAC region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026, in terms of both value and volume.
In 2020, the linerless labels market declined amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with a marginal decline in its CAGR. The market was affected, mainly by the slow raw material production in many countries, supply chain disruptions, and hampered trade movements in 2020.
In the first quarter of 2021, the market for linerless labels witnessed an increase in demand worldwide, compared to the same period in 2020.
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