Next time you are at the store, look around and notice just how many companies are opting for shrink sleeves for packaging. Because of the unique nature of shrink sleeves, they are suited to so many applications across almost every industry. They can conform to just about any type of packaging, regardless of the size or shape of the container you use for your product. According to Journal Dairy, “The Global Shrink Sleeve & Stretch Sleeve Labels Market is expected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.75% in the forecast period of 2018-2025, rising from its initial estimated value of USD 10 billion in 2017 to an estimated value of USD 15.64 billion by 2025” (https://www.journaldairy.com).

In the coming months we will have blog posts dedicated to the unique needs of individual industries with regard to shrink sleeves. For now, here is a quick and dirty breakdown of some of the main pain points that shrink sleeves ease in different industries. Some industries where shrink sleeves have gained much steam over the past few years include: craft beer, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical, industrial, health and beauty, and specialty food and beverage.

Players in the craft brew industry have been participants in shrink sleeves for their various bottles. Design is a major force in the craft beer market. There are so many companies, from startup microbreweries to large established brands, competing to catch the eye of potential customers. Plenty  of them are creating memorable and rousing designs. Shrink sleeves, with their continuous design surface, can provide the extra impact that a brand is looking for.

Among OTC pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, the safety of their offerings is essential. And among consumers of these products, safety is taken for granted. Shrink sleeves enable brands and consumers alike to rest assured that products are untainted. They can cover the entire packaging, including the cap, and have tamper seals built right in.

There is such a huge range of types of industrial products, and many of them come in shapes and sizes that are anything but standard. Rather than having to order special tooling or worry about whether a label will affix easily to a product that does not fit in a standard jar or box, shrink sleeves provide a simple solution to these problems and allow industrial companies the opportunity to show off the unique features of the products themselves.

Rachel Brown, of Beauty Independent, discusses the extensive similarities between packaging and branding choices across many beauty companies (https://www.beautyindependent.com). If you don’t want to get lost in the tide of packaging and design choices that may make your brand indiscernible from another, shrink sleeves offer a two-fold solution: you can select special containers with curves and other design features that are sure to set you apart, and your design will cover the entirety of your packaging!

There are many reasons why specialty food and beverage brands are opting more and more for shrink sleeves. Shrink offers the same benefits listed above for other industries, and another that is even more important for food and beverage: waterproof packaging! No one wants unseemly drip marks on the labels of the things they love to consume, and shrink sleeves solve for this problem beautifully.

For all the industries touched on above, and for any other brand considering shrink sleeves for their packaging needs, shrink sleeves offer a unique solution to packaging requirements. There is, of course, overlap between the needs of various industries. Make sure to check back in every Tuesday and Thursday to read more about shrink and the many benefits of this type of flexible packaging. Reach out to us today if you have any questions or are ready to get started on your next (or first!) shrink sleeve project!