Shipping Labels

A shipping label is a document that contains important information about a shipment, such as the recipient's address, sender's address, tracking number, and barcode. It is usually affixed to the outside of a package to identify and track the shipment during transit.

To create a shipping label, you can use various methods. You can manually fill out a label template the carrier provides or use tools offered by shipping services like FedEx or USPS. These tools allow you to input the necessary information and generate a printable shipping label.

Yes - if you're shipping multiple packages, you can use online tools or shipping label templates to generate shipping labels for each package individually. This helps in maintaining proper documentation and tracking for each shipment.

To ensure the accuracy of your labels, double-check the sender's and recipient's addresses, package weight, and shipping method before generating the label. Verify that all the information is correct to avoid any potential delivery issues.

You’ll often see companies showcasing their standard shipping labels as being “sustainable” based on words like “recyclable,” “paper-based,” or “compostable.” However, almost all shipping labels are paper-based, utilize relatively eco-friendly acrylic emulsion or hot melt adhesives, and are naturally biodegradable. They also arrive on silicone-coated release liners made with virgin paper and are unrecyclable due to the silicone.

EcoEnclose has worked hard to develop a truly more eco-friendly line than standard labels based on our selected face stocks, unique patented zero waste liner, and adhesives.

Choose from our four label types to create a shipping label for your business. EcoEnclose has an eco-friendly shipping label for you, no matter what you're shipping.

• 100% Recycled White Shipping Label on Zero Waste Liner: Our most eco-friendly and sustainable labels! The zero waste release liners are made with 100% post-consumer paper and are curbside recyclable, featuring a patented UV coating instead of a silicone layer. The facestock is also made with 100% post-consumer waste.

• Direct Thermal Shipping Label on Zero Waste Liner: These unique labels feature our 100% recycled and curbside recyclable zero waste release liner. The facestock, however, is made with virgin, certified sustainably sourced paper.

• APR-Approved Shipping Labels on Standard Liner: These innovative labels are approved by the Association of Plastics Recyclers to be compatible with film-to-film recycling. These labels positions brands to secure How2Recycle Store Drop Off approval when used in conjunction with EcoEnclose poly mailers and bubble mailers. The facestock and liner, however, are made with virgin content.

• 100% Recycled Kraft Shipping Label on Standard Liner: The facestock on these labels is made with 100% post-consumer waste. However, they arrive on a standard silicone-coated release liner that is virgin and unrecyclable. We offer these because some brands we work with are very committed to the Kraft aesthetic and prefer this color label.

• High Tack, Direct Thermal Shipping Label on Standard Liner: These are not necessarily “eco-friendlier” on their own, as the facestock and the release liner on these labels are standard. We offer them because they have a powerful, hot melt adhesive that allows them to bond tightly to almost any surface. Occasionally, we’ll work with eCommerce brands that struggle to find labels that adhere perfectly to recycled padded mailers. In these situations, we direct them to these labels as they ensure brands can use the most sustainable packaging possible.

We offer four labels because we recognize that brands have different operations and functional needs, and we want to ensure everyone can find an eco-friendly label solution that will work for their business.

Note that, like all paper labels, ours are recyclable. They do not hinder their recyclability if used on a recyclable package. Ensure your shipment is as eco-friendly as possible by using an EcoEnclose shipping label.

You can use a standard printer connected to your computer to print shipping labels. You can click on the print option provided after creating the label using online tools or a label template. Ensure your printer has sufficient ink or toner for clear and legible labels.

Our sheet labels are designed to be printed using standard toner or inkjet. Our labels on a roll are direct thermal labels intended to be printed through special direct thermal printers.

We offer industrial and standard roll sizes in our direct thermal shipping labels. Standard rolls come with 250 labels, while industrial rolls come with 1000. The core size and overall diameter differ greatly, so you'll want to choose the right one for your machine.

Find a printer compatible with our shipping labels here.

Our Direct Thermal Shipping Label on Zero Waste Liner are available as black timing mark and transmissive gap. Our High Tack, Direct Thermal Shipping Label on Standard Liner and our APR-Approved Shipping Labels are only available as transmissive gap.

With gap-sensing labels, there are no marks on the back of the release liner. The printing machine uses optics to signal when there is a gap between the labels and when it needs to stop. Black-timing mark labels have a black mark on the release liner. The printing machine searches for the black mark to determine when to stop feeding the labels. Many printing machines can accept both labels, but the settings often need to be adjusted. Sometimes, a machine can only work with one type of label.

EcoEnclose offers direct thermal shipping labels, but we do not offer thermal transfer labels. What’s the difference between these labels?

Direct thermal printing uses a chemically treated, heat-sensitive coated paper that darkens when it passes under the thermal printhead. Thermal transfer uses a heated ribbon to produce durable images on various materials.

Direct thermal printing works well for applications requiring a short shelf life, such as shipping labels and receipts. Direct thermal machines are user-friendly and do not require long-term supplies like ink, toner, or ribbons.

Thermal label printing is optimal for applications requiring longer shelf life or exact graphics. Barcode labels and product labels are two such examples.

Create labels that support your packaging's end-of-life.

Our paper labels can be placed on a recyclable package, such as a shipping box, and will not change the recyclability of that package. Our APR-approved polypropylene shipping labels are for brands seeking How2Recycle approval. This is a uniquely formulated facestock and adhesive to align with APR's requirements, and is APR-approved compatible with film-to-film recycling.

The recycling industry generally prefers that labels be made with the same substrate from which the parcel is made. EcoEnclose labels are a great fit for shipping boxes and paper mailers.

In the world of poly mailers and bubble mailers, shipping labels are less ideal. While including paper does not render the plastic mailer unrecyclable, it makes the material less clean and desirable. For example, a poly mailer with a paper shipping label is less clean and optimal than discarded pallet wrap, which is clear, clean, and has no labels.

Brands can safely ship with poly mailers and use paper labels, and your customers can recycle these poly mailers. But for brands and consumers who want to take steps to maximize the value and purity of their recycled materials, it is recommended that these paper labels be removed or cut off before recycling the plastic mailer.

We recommend our APR-approved shipping labels for brands seeking How2Recycle labeling on our poly and bubble mailers. Over time, as more thin film is recycled into packaging, we will encourage more brands to adopt our APR-approved shipping labels.

No - none of our labels contain BPA or PFAs. They all comply with Model Toxics in Packaging legislation (formerly known as CONEG legislation). They contain no substances of any level of concern concerning European Chemical Agency (ECHA) guidelines. They comply with Proposition 65 legislation.

Yes - download a template for our 6.5" x 4.5" sheet labels.