In packaging and labeling production, moisture is an everyday reality—and a challenge. Condensation on cold-filled bottles, humid warehouse storage spaces, sanitizing washdowns, or even the handling during transportation can smear the print, weaken adhesives, and peel labels. So, when it comes to package and label printing, moisture resistance is not just a nice-to-have feature; it’s a requirement that protects against compliance issues and product loss.
AstroNova and GetLabels offer solutions that deliver both.
Moisture Matters
In reality, relative humidity during production, shipping, storage, and even use often exceeds desired levels. With labels, condensation can result in direct failure — from blurred printing and curling edges to unreadable barcodes and, ultimately, rejected product.
Across industries, moisture is a challenge in packaging and labeling applications. In food and beverage production, cold- chain distribution and sanitation processes often benefit from film labels with acrylic adhesives and, in some cases, lamination to enhance durability. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, cGMP expectations require labels to remain legible and suitable for their intended use, often achieved using labels printed with pigment-based inkjet inks or resin ribbons. In chemical and agrochemical industries, PET film labels printed with resin ribbons provide resistance to water, solvents, and surfactants. Appliances and electronics used in areas prone to condensation or exposure to household cleaners require dimensionally stable PET films, resin thermal transfer ribbons, and laminates to prevent smudging or edge lift.
Moreover, in regulated environments, labeling durability is a critical compliance component. OSHA hazard communication requirements emphasize that container labels must remain legible and intact under normal conditions of use. FDA cGMP regulations expect labeling materials to be verified as suitable for their intended application. In food processing, USDA FSIS sanitation requirements mandate that production environments and equipment withstand moisture and repeated cleaning and sanitation procedures. Labels used in these areas must likewise withstand the conditions.
Moisture-Resistant Label Materials Offered by GetLabels
GetLabels offers a wide range of label materials designed to perform reliably in environments exposed to moisture, humidity, condensation, washdowns, refrigeration, freezing, and chemical contact. These materials are engineered to resist smudging, abrasion, and adhesion failure while maintaining print quality and durability.
- Polypropylene (BOPP) Label Materials: GetLabels BOPP label materials offer a wide range of options for moist environments. Moisture- and humidity-resistant, abrasion-resistant, UV-resistant, and solvent-resistant, these materials are available in gloss, high-gloss, satin, matte, white, clear, removable, freezer-grade, cryogenic, and specialty adhesive formats. Many polypropylene materials adhere well to a wide variety of substrates, including glass, metals, plastics, packaging films, corrugated cardboard, HDPE, and treated surfaces. several adhesives are explicitly engineered for freezer applications and high moisture environments.
- Polyester (PET) Label Materials: GetLabels also offers polyester (PET) label materials designed for demanding environments. These materials provide excellent environmental resistance, including resistance to harsh chemicals, salt water, moisture, abrasion, UV exposure, and heat. In addition, certain PET label materials are suitable for GHS drum labeling and include UV-stable, heat-resistant adhesives for use in industrial, chemical, and regulated settings.
- Vinyl Label Materials: Matte white vinyl label materials are suitable for applications requiring moderate resistance to moisture, abrasion, and some solvents. These materials are receptive to digital color-label printing and compatible with all-purpose adhesives, making them well-suited for general industrial and equipment labeling applications.
- Kimdura® Label Materials: Matte white Kimdura® label materials are resistant to smudging, abrasion, moisture, dirt, oil, many chemicals, staining, weathering, and tearing. They perform well in cold temperatures, conform to curved surfaces, and include options compliant with BS5609 Section 2&3, making them suitable for harsh environments and GHS labeling applications.
- Specialty and Extreme-Environment Materials: GetLabels cryogenic polypropylene label materials withstand exposure to liquid nitrogen, steam autoclaving, gamma radiation, solvents, moisture, and smudging — making them ideal for pharmaceutical and laboratory use. Additional specialty materials include clear and metallic polypropylene labels that provide moisture and UV resistance while supporting high-quality, full-color printing and premium visual appearance.
- Treated Paper Label Materials: For applications involving incidental moisture contact, GetLabels offers premium matte, high-gloss, semi-gloss, and matte vellum paper labels. They are resistant to smudging and abrasion. Some provide moisture resistance, wet strength, and removable adhesive options, positioning them for use in beverage, wine, and controlled-environment applications.
GetLabels provides moisture-resistant label materials, including polypropylene and polyester films, Kimdura®, vinyl, specialty cryogenic materials, and treated papers. By selecting materials based on the specific moisture exposure, surface type, and durability requirements described, manufacturers can maintain label integrity, readability, and adhesion in wet and demanding environments.
Help with selecting the right material for the job is available across GetLabels and AstroNova. The GetLabels Materials Finder is an interactive online tool that helps users identify the best blank label materials for virtually any product labeling application. Additional support resources include access to technical experts, detailed application notes, educational videos, and training related to label materials—as well as printers and presses, accessories, software, and more.
Printing Moisture-Resistant Labels with AstroNova Printers
AstroNova offers a wide range of industry-leading in-house printers and presses that can economically and efficiently produce moisture-resistant labels and packaging when paired with the appropriate GetLabels inks, label materials, and finishing options for the application.
Examples include:
- AstroNova QL-120D Durable Tabletop Digital Label Printer: The QL-120D produces highly durable labels using pigment-based inks engineered for resistance to moisture, chemicals, and UV fading. With BS5609 section 2 & 3 compliance achieved using Getlabels Kimdura labels, this solution is well suited for harsh environmental applications.
- AstroNova QL-300 Toner-Based Label Printer (CMYK or CMYK+W): The QL-300 uses a toner-based printing process that delivers scratch- and UV-resistant output, making it a strong option for applications where labels may be exposed to frequent handling or incidental moisture.
- AstroNova QL-900 Industrial Inkjet Label Printer: Built for high-volume label production, the QL-900 delivers high-resolution, full-color labels across a wide range of applications and suitability for moisture-resistant labeling with the appropriate inks, label materials, and finishing options selected.
