Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene, or BOPP, is one of the most popular label materials, suitable for most applications. BOPP label materials, which provide an ideal printing surface, are commonly used for bottle labels, food labels, vape labels, cannabis product labels, custom roll labels and numerous other products. Here's a helpful guide to their many uses and the different types of BOPP labels available:
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What is BOPP?
Lightning Labels has partnered with Avery-Dennison, the industry leader in high quality label materials, to offer BOPP as a major part of its product line. BOPP is basically polypropylene that's stretched flat. It is economical to produce, and its ruggedness, low toxicity and versatile performance (especially resistance to oil and water) lends itself to a wide range of uses.
What Types Of BOPP Labels Are Available?
In the oil- and water-resistant label category, you have a choice of White BOPP labels, Clear BOPP labels, Chrome (Silver) BOPP labels, Lip balm label material and Gold BOPP labels.
White BOPP labels, the most commonly-ordered, feature a permanent adhesive and are suitable for most applications. These are impervious to oil and water, making them a great choice for bath and body products, as well as food and beverage labels.
Clear BOPP labels offer the same water-resistant properties as White BOPP, while delivering a "no label" look that allows you to show off the contents of your product. Clear BOPP is especially suited to window decals or display cases in stores, where images and text are reverse-printed for viewing on the outside of a window or glass door.
Chrome (Silver) and Gold BOPP labels, which also provide the same water- and oil-resistant properties as White BOPP, give you a decorative metallic look - such as the mirror-like appearance of shiny chrome, or the elegant, reflective surface of gold.
Lip balm labels are available in White BOPP, Clear BOPP and Chrome BOPP. Created specifically for lip balm products, this material is water- and oil-resistant, won't crease or smudge and features an aggressive adhesive that holds on tightly to products, especially small sized lip balm containers.
Removable BOPP Labels Too
Sometimes you may want a label that is removable or repositionable. For special applications like this, Removable white BOPP labels provide the same properties as standard BOPP label materials, with the added advantage of a less aggressive adhesive. To assure that the labels perform as desired, especially when applied to different surfaces and substrates, you may want to conduct product testing with the containers you have in mind. Lightning Labels would be glad to supply sample labels for this purpose.
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You are looking for a new flexible packaging film. Perhaps you are looking for a more affordable alternative to cellophane.
Or, maybe, you require a film that has increased strength and superior barrier properties to resist water vapor and oxygen gas.
You may have many reasons for searching for biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film (also known as BOPP). But, the main thing you have had trouble finding concerning this material is information.
You have likely discovered that BOPP is a bit obscure when compared to other types of flexible packaging films. And, this has made finding the information you are looking for even more difficult.
Well, today, we are going to solve that problem for you.
As a multi-generational packaging company, Industrial Packaging has over 65 years of experience with packaging films. And, we have a library of information on the different types of packaging films currently available.
With the information in this article, you will better understand biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film, its applications, and its uses.
What Is Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film?
Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film is a type of flexible packaging film. Biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film is stretched in machine and transverse directions. This results in a molecular chain orientation in both directions.
This type of flexible packaging film is created via a tubular production process. A tube-shaped film bubble is inflated and heated to its softening point (this is different from the melting point) and is stretched with machinery. The film stretches between 300% - 400%.
Alternatively, the film can also be stretched by a process known as tenter-frame film manufacturing. With this technique, the polymers are extruded onto a cooled cast roll (also known as a base sheet) and drawn along the machine direction. Tenter-frame film manufacturing uses several sets of rolls to create this film.
The tenter-frame process generally stretches the film 4.5:1 in the machine direction and 8.0:1 in the transverse direction. That being said, the ratios are fully adjustable.
The tenter-frame process is more common than the tubular variant. It produces a highly glossy, clear film. Biaxial orientation increases strength and results in superior stiffness, enhanced transparency, and high resistance to oil and grease.
BOPP film also boasts increased barrier properties to vapor and oxygen. Impact resistance and flexcrack resistance are substantially better with BOPP versus polypropylene shrink film.
Want to learn more about shrink film?
What Are The Applications For BOPP Overwrap Film?
Biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap films are most commonly used for food packaging. They are fast replacing cellophane for applications including snack food and tobacco packaging. This is primarily due to their superior properties and lower cost.
Many companies choose to use BOPP in place of traditional shrink films as they feature enhanced properties and capabilities that are superior to those of standard flexible packaging films.
It should be noted that heat sealing is difficult for BOPP films. However, this can be made easier by coating the film after processing with a heat-sealable material or co-extruding with a co-polymer before processing. This will result in a multi-layer film.
Who Uses Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film?
Businesses that commonly use BOPP film include food manufacturing and distribution companies, tobacco companies, supermarkets, and consumer goods manufacturing companies.
You can see BOPP at your local supermarkets, retail food stores, and gas stations.
Many companies that use cellophane for their product packaging also use BOPP films. In some cases, these companies have replaced cellophane altogether with BOPP film.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of white bopp label material. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Is B
iaxially Oriented Polypropylene Overwrap Film Right For You?
To figure out if BOPP films are the correct packaging solution for your company's packaging requirements, you will need to answer a few questions.
Is BOPP Or Shrink Film Right For Your Packaging Needs?
With the answers to the questions above, you should have everything you need to figure out if biaxially oriented polypropylene overwrap film is proper for your packaging or not.
With that being said, BOPP may or may not be the best type of flexible packaging film for your packaging requirements.
Depending on your application, shrink film may be a better choice. Would you like to learn about the different kinds of shrink films currently available and which one would be most appropriate for your business?
If you would like to learn more about the different types of shrink films, you will want to consider reading our complete guide to shrink film.
This free resource is packed to the brim with everything you need to help you choose the correct shrink film for your packaging line.
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