Linerless Labels: Adhesive Solutions for Efficiency and Compatibility

In the labeling and packaging industry, efficiency, performance, and compliance all go into consideration to create the final consumer product. As the market evolves, linerless label technology is a popular choice by manufacturers for its ability to simplify production and optimize throughput in a demanding work environment.

What Are Linerless Labels and How Do They Work?

Linerless labels are pressure sensitive labels designed without a traditional release liner backing. Instead, the back of the facestock is coated with release coating, allowing the adhesive-coated side to roll directly onto itself. When dispensed, the label cleanly separates from the underlying layer, ready for application without the need for a liner.

Because linerless labels can be formulated with repositionable adhesives, they are especially valuable in industries like food service and retail, where operators often need to adjust placement on packaging or displays without damaging surfaces or leaving residue. In many cases, the label is placed on a temporary surface, such as a stainless steel shelf, before being placed on the intended product, so it must maintain its adhesion through multiple applications across various substrates—with both high and low surface energies. This design maximizes efficiency in the end-use application while reducing overall material usage and waste and increasing roll capacity.

Key Benefits that Linerless Labels Can Enable in Manufacturing

• ‍Greater Efficiency: Larger roll capacity and faster label application keeps production moving
• ‍Less Waste: No liner means less material waste and lower disposal costs
• ‍Improved Logistics: More labels per roll = more labels per shipments to customers
• ‍Flexible Performance: Repositionable and cleanly removable with the right adhesive formulation
• ‍Regulatory Readiness: Compatibility with water-based adhesive systems and other regulatory requirements

Why Adhesive Selection Defines Linerless Label Performance

The adhesive used in a linerless label determines critical performance capabilities: label strength & removability, substrate compatibility, and regulatory compliance. As linerless technology continues to grow across industries, choosing the right pressure sensitive adhesive is key to ensuring smooth converting, reliable end use performance, and full regulatory compliance.

Franklin A&P offers select pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) formulated specifically for linerless labels. These products deliver consistent tack and peel  strength while maintaining compatibility with various coating methods, release coatings,  and printer hardware. At the same time, these formulations are engineered to meet necessary regulatory standards including REACH compliance, VOC content limitations, and 21 CFR 175.105 indirect food contact compliance to ensure industry -leading performance in both product capability and safety compliance.

Click here to learn more about indirect food contact regulations.

Adhesive Design for Food Service, Retail, and Logistics Applications

Linerless labels are becoming increasingly popular in the food service, retail, and logistics & transportation industries, with each labeling environment bringing unique performance needs. In food service, for example, adhesives are formulated to perform reliably in refrigerated, frozen, or heated conditions.

Franklin Adhesives & Polymers takes these factors into careful consideration when developing linerless label adhesive formulations—ensuring consistent release, clean removability, and production efficiency across a wide range of applications.

Engineered Solutions for Linerless Labels

As regulatory expectations around chemical use and emissions continue to evolve, selecting adhesives that are REACH-compliant, APEO-free formulations, low in VOCs, and suitable for indirect food contact is becoming increasingly important.

At Franklin Adhesives & Polymers, we offer proven microsphere adhesive technologies that combine strong adhesion, clean removability, and consistent performance—all formulated to meet today’s strict regulatory and application demands. Additional products, formulations, and product information are available. If you have a specific performance application you’d like to test, reach out to our team directly.

Micronax® 300-05

Micronax® 300-05 is a REACH compliant and APEO-free microsphere product designed for removable and repositionable pressure sensitive applications. It offers moderate adhesion while maintaining clean removability and carries excellent mechanical stability. Micronax® 300-05 generates minimal foam during the coating process and is designed for direct coating using a variety of methods. Micronax® 300-05 is also 21 CFR FDA 175.105 compliant when used with facestocks.^*

Micronax®360-15

Micronax® 360-15 is a REACH compliant and APEO-free microsphere adhesive designed for removable applications. Similar to Micronax® 300-05 in its improved mechanical stability and low foam generation during coating, Micronax 360-15 offers lower overall adhesion, making it ideal for applications where easy label removal is a priority. Its clean release properties and reliable performance make it a strong choice for temporary labels, weigh-scale labeling, and other linerless label formats requiring gentle tack. Micronax® 360-15 is 21 CFR FDA 175.105 compliant when used with facestocks.^*

Micronax®360-30

Micronax® 360-30 is also REACH compliant and APEO-free PSA and offers a balanced combination of adhesion strength and removability. This microsphere adhesive maintains high, consistent adhesion with clean release and improved mechanical stability for smooth coating performance. Micronax 360-30 is particularly well-suited for linerless and self-wound label applications where slightly higher adhesion is required—such as semi-durable or food service label uses. Micronax® 360-30 is 21 CFR FDA 175.105 compliant when used with facestocks.^*

^{*Compliant when bonded with facestocks such as polyester terephthalate (PET or mylar), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), paper, and vinyl. Like all adhesives optimal bonding performance requires adherence to recommended application practices.}

Micronax® technology can be customized to meet specific performance, coating, or application needs. Additional formulations are available based on customer requirements and production volume. Contact our technical service team or submit a request for more information.

Click here to learn more about APEO-free adhesives.

The Future of Linerless Labeling

Linerless labels are transforming how manufacturers and end users approach labeling across industries. With the right pressure-sensitive adhesive, companies can achieve reliable release, clean removability, and consistent performance—boosting efficiency, reducing waste, and meeting strict regulatory standards. To explore how Franklin Adhesives & Polymers’ solutions can help optimize your linerless label applications, connect with our team for more information.

Franklin aims to work directly with label manufacturers to find the right formulation to serve their unique application scope and manufacturing process requirements. Connect with our team to learn more.

We're Here to Help!

Our team of adhesive experts are at the ready to answer your questions. Contact our technical service team or submit a request for more information.

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Franklin Adhesives & Polymers, a division of Franklin International, delivers innovative wood adhesives, specialty polymers, and pressure-sensitive adhesive solutions trusted worldwide since 1935. Franklin Adhesives & Polymers is a division of Franklin International.

About Franklin International: Established in 1935, Franklin International is among the largest privately held manufacturers of adhesives and sealants in the U.S. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company maintains multiple manufacturing and distribution locations in the U.S. and a plant in Guangzhou, China. The company maintains two divisions: Franklin Adhesives & Polymers provides pressure-sensitive adhesives for labels, tapes and graphics applications, and adhesives for wood assembly markets, and the Construction Division manufactures Titebond-brand wood glues, construction adhesives, sealants and flooring products.

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