Water-soluble labels

What is a soluble label?

An alkaline water-soluble label, also known as a WLA label, can be removed from the product without leaving any residue*. However, there are a few points to bear in mind before the alkaline water-soluble adhesive can be completely removed:

1. Proportion of printing ink, protective varnish and hot foil stamping

Components such as hot foil stamping, varnish or ink seal the label surface and prevent the alkaline solution from penetrating the paper fibers to loosen the adhesive. The primer, mandatory for the printing ink, also seals the paper surface. So the higher the proportion of these components on the label, the more difficult it will be to remove them later.

Caution: For self-adhesive labels that are to be removed later by an alkaline solution, no varnish or film lamination is required.

2. Bottle rinsing

Water-soluble adhesive materials

Label removal is carried out simply with water, without the need for alkaline products or specific detergents. Contact with water allows the adhesive to dissolve or lose its adhesive strength, making it easy to detach the label. In many cases, rinsing with lukewarm water (approximately 20–40°C) is sufficient to trigger detachment. Using warmer water may speed up the process, while cold water may require a slightly longer contact time.
The dissolution time depends on the type of material and adhesive, as well as the ink used. For unprinted or lightly treated labels, removal can be very quick, sometimes in less than a minute. No sticky residue remains on the surface when the recommended usage conditions are followed.
The prerequisite for removing labels from used glass is proper storage. Dry, weatherproof storage is ideal. Glue reacts very quickly to climatic influences. Rain, for example, can cause the glue to dissolve and, if it dries later, to adhere permanently. In principle, the longer empty packs are stored, the more difficult it is to remove adhesive labels later. If stored correctly, labelletiquette.fr guarantees optimum adhesion for around 12 months after production. However, we cannot guarantee removability due to various influencing factors and material properties.

Alkaline-soluble adhesive materials

We also offer materials equipped with an alkaline-soluble adhesive, designed for industrial applications requiring controlled label removal. Under the action of a hot alkaline solution, the adhesive breaks down, allowing the label to detach effectively from the substrate without leaving any residue.

As with water-soluble adhesives, application conditions can influence the removal behaviour: temperature, solution concentration, as well as the presence of inks, varnishes or hot foiling may limit the penetration of the liquid into the material and slow down the separation process.

3. Used glass storage

Proper storage conditions are a prerequisite for the removal of labels from used glass. Ideally, they should be stored in a dry place, protected from weather conditions. The adhesive reacts very quickly to environmental influences: for example, rain can cause the adhesive to partially dissolve, and subsequent drying may lead to permanent adhesion.

In general, the longer empty containers are stored, the more difficult it becomes to remove the adhesive labels afterwards. When stored correctly, labelletiquette.fr guarantees optimal adhesive performance for approximately 12 months after production. However, removability cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on various external factors and material properties.

Free sample book

With our free sample book, you can get an overview of our standard substrates and finishes, and convince yourself of our excellent print quality. We’ll also be happy to provide you with samples to suit your needs. Simply contact our customer service department and tell us which substrates and adhesives you are interested in.

Our graphic design service

Would you like to rework the design of your existing label? Do you already have an idea of what your label should look like, but lack the technical know-how to implement the design? You don’t yet have an idea of what your label should look like? No problem. Our unique graphic design service allows you to entrust the creation of your label to one of our professional graphic designers, according to your wishes and instructions. Find out more on our graphic design service page.

*labelletiquette.fr cannot guarantee that labels can be removed without leaving residue. The factors mentioned above, as well as environmental influences, can strongly influence the removability of labels.

We’re here to help you

If you still have questions, you can of course contact our customer service department at any time. You can reach us Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by telephone on +33(0)4 81 68 19 73 or by e-mail at info@labelletiquette.fr.